Steven Jahnke appears in Outagamie County court, September 24, 2026. (Outagamie Co. court/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Jan. 19 trial date was set Tuesday for Steven Jahnke, who allegedly stole about $70,000 from the Hearthstone Historic House Museum.
Jahnke, 78, faces one count of theft in a business setting.
Defense attorney Susan Holloway said she received a plea offer from the state today, but needs time to review that and more evidence in the case.
Jahnke allegedly embezzled museum funds for his personal use from 2019 to 2025, according to a criminal complaint. Jahnke admitted he “embezzled funds to pay for his own expenses,” the complaint states.
The museum was built in 1882 and became a private nonprofit museum in 1986. The museum was originally a residence and was the first hydroelectric-powered home in the world.
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