Sixteen alleged child sex predators and traffickers were arrested in Wisconsin during a week-long sting operation, the state Department of Justice said Wednesday.
Half of those arrested were charged in Brown, Outagamie, Shawano or Sheboygan County.
The arrests were a part of Operation New Hope, an operation focused on child exploitation and online crimes in Wisconsin.
“I spent a large part of my career prosecuting sensitive crimes against children, and I swore to continue protecting Wisconsin’s children when I became Attorney General,” said Attorney General Brad Schimel. “ICAC operations like Operation New Hope bring together committed law enforcement and victim advocacy groups to stop the sexual exploitation and abuse of children."
Five people arrested during the sting had previously been arrested for internet crimes against children-related crimes, the DOJ said.
Charges against those arrested include: possession of child pornography, exposing a child to harmful material, child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, attempted sexual assault of a child, causing a child to view sexual activity and trafficking of a child.
The following people were arrested and charged in Northeast Wisconsin:
Jonathan Herschberger - Possession of Child Pornography
Joseph Cajacob - Cause Child 13-18 to View Sexual Activity
Shawn Hanson - Expose Child to Harmful Material, Child Enticement-Expose Genitals/Pubic Area/Intimate Parts
Scott Lecker - Child Enticement-Prostitution, Trafficking of a Child
Jeff Vadnais-Speck - Child Enticement-Sexual Contact, Child Enticement-Give/Sell Drugs
James Stevens - Use a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime, Child Enticement-Sexual Contact
Brandon Stewart - Use a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime
Christopher Lutzewitz - Possession of Child Pornography
