Businessman sentenced to 45 years for sex crimes

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HUDSON, Wis. (AP) — A businessman from western Wisconsin has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading no contest to sexually abusing children.

Authorities said Daniel Barber, 46, had offered to baby-sit for many of the boys who were younger than 9 and sometimes used Craigslist and Facebook to connect with parents, according to the Pioneer Press.

He pleaded no contest to first-degree child sexual abuse, possession of child pornography and child enticement in November. He was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in prison, followed by 25 years of extended supervision.

Barber was charged in April with seven counts of first-degree child sexual assault. He also was charged in a separate case with child enticement and six counts of possession of child pornography. Many of the charges were dismissed after his no-contest pleas.

Investigators had been looking into molestation claims against the Hudson storage business owner, community festival committee president and former part-time police officer since at least 2007. But officials say prosecutors weren’t able to file charges until a victim came forward in February 2014.

Authorities said most of the abuse occurred in Barber’s home, and the charging documents listed incidents that occurred between 2004 and February 2014.

Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com