A Milwaukee man was sentenced to the state-mandated five years in prison after being targeted by an internet sex sting operation. The 59-year-old man, who was originally charged in February, pled guilty in May to allegations of using a computer to organize an Internet sex crime. According to court documentation, the Internet solicitation began just over a year ago.
In May of 2010, the former superintendent for New Holstein School District began chatting online with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. Over the next several months, the man and the boy communicated solely online.
In January, the man arranged a meeting between himself and the boy. What the man didn’t know was that he had been the subject of an Internet sex sting operation undertaken by the Milwaukee police. It transpired that the person the defendant had been corresponding with over the previous seven months was a Milwaukee police officer, and not a 15-year-old boy.
When the gentleman showed up for his would-be meeting with the young man, he was approached by the police. Upon questioning, he admitted to being the person involved in the online conversations and remained completely cooperative with police and investigators throughout the duration of the proceedings.
Unfortunately, his immaculate record and public servitude did not earn him leniency in his sentencing, nor did his remorse or cooperation. State legislators demand a mandatory five-year sentence for sex crimes of this nature.
The man is also facing charges connected with the possession of child pornography. It is alleged that the man was in possession of a thumb drive that containing pornographic images of children. Subsequent investigations revealed additional imagery on the computer at the gentleman’s office.
The child pornography case is still pending, and no sentence has been issued as of yet.
Wisconsin law takes a tough stance when it comes to Internet sex crimes. Individuals facing allegations of offenses that are sexual in nature may require the experience of a criminal defense attorney assist in guiding them through the complicated legal processes.
Source: Jsonline.com, “Ex-school official in New Holstein sentenced in Internet sex sting,” Bruce Vielmetti, 30 June 2011