JON'S CELL: A 39-year-old Rothschild man is facing charges in Marathon County after being arrested by police in a regional child sting. The man, who worked as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America Samoset Council, has been charged with using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
The charges against the man stemmed from a statewide investigation in which investigators reportedly posed as children online. According to court documents, the man allegedly became a part of the sting operation after he made suggestions online to someone that he believed to be 15 years of age. During the conversation, records state that the man suggested that the two could go to a park in the area that was secluded. He then allegedly stopped to purchase condoms before arriving for their meeting.
The man was given a $5,000 signature bond with the first $2,000 of the bond to be in cash. The judge further ordered that the man not be allowed to use any computers, nor is he to have contact with children who are younger than 18 years of age.
The man was one of 24 arrests made in the sting over the previous weekend. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on November 25.
Defendants who are facing sex crime charges of online solicitation of a minor or using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, could face damage to their reputations in both their personal and professional life if they are convicted. An experienced Wisconsin criminal attorney may be able to assist defendants by helping to provide a defense that would dismiss or reduce these types of charges and possibly limit jail time.
Source: Wausau Daily Herald, “Update: Scout volunteer charged in child-sex sting” Alison Dirr, Oct. 13, 2014
