By Lisa Pett

A Plover man accused of sexually assaulting a young relative is set to go to trial in November in Portage County Court.

Michael Herbert, 64, was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for an initial appearance, however, a transportation issue delayed the hearing. Herbert is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Missouri for molesting the same victim.

According to the criminal complaint, the child reported the incident to her mother during a family visit to visit Herbert and his wife at their Plover home for the holidays in December of 2012. In interviews with investigators, Herbert admitted to touching the victim at least 10 times over a period of three years.

He told police that he had “struggled with [the urges] for a long time.” The incidents occurred while Herbert was babysitting the child.

According to District Attorney, Louis Molepske, Jr., the law requires Herbert be tried for crimes committed in Portage County 120 days from his arrival back in Wisconsin.

He is facing three counts of 1st degree sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, three counts of incest with a child and two counts of exposing his genitals to a child. Herbert could be facing over 100 years in prison for all charges.

Herbert is scheduled to be transported to the Portage County Jail at a later date. His initial appearance has not been set. The trial date is November 18.