Sixteen people were arrested in a week-long Internet Crimes Against Children task force sting. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says five of the 16 are registered sex offenders or were previously arrested on suspicion of crimes against children. The sting, called Operation New Hope, resulted in arrests in 13 counties, including Outagamie 3 , Shawano 3 , Sheboygan 1 and Winnebago 1.
Charges against the 16 will include child enticement, trafficking a child, attempted sexual assault of a child, possession of child pornography, using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and exposing a child to harmful material. Charges filed against defendants in our area, according to online court records:. Jonathan Herschberger, 35, of Appleton is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography in Outagamie County.
Scott Lecker, 28, of Shawano is charged with trafficking a child and child enticement to cause a child to engage in prostitution. Christopher Lutzewitz, 38, of Kaukauna is charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography. James Stevens, 43, of Oconto Falls is charged with using a computer to facilitate a sex crime and child enticement with the intent of sexual contact. Brandon Stewart, 22, of Green Lake, is charged with using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
Jeff Vadnais-Speck, 31, Shawano, is charged with child enticement for sexual contact, child enticement to give or sell drugs, and resisting or obstructing an officer.
Joseph Cajacob, 36, of Kohler is charged with three counts of causing a child between 13 and 18 years old to view sexual activity. Shawn Hanson, 35, of Oshkosh is charged with six counts of exposing a child to harmful material and one count of child enticement with the intent of exposing the pubic area. The Department of Justice says the sting was made possible through a state law that increased funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children investigative program and created a faster process for obtaining subpoenas.
