Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A fourth suspect has been arrested following a recent Internet sex sting operation after he continued making contact with undercover investigators after the operation was over.
Nathan C. Zwicky, 24, of Oshkosh, was charged Tuesday with a felony count of using a computer to facilitate a sex crime, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
He was arrested Monday night in Wescott at a rendezvous he allegedly set up with what he believed was a 15-year-old girl, according to the criminal complaint, in spite of the fact that he was apparently aware of the widely publicized Internet sex sting less than two weeks ago.
According to text messages included in the criminal complaint, Zwicky refers to news reports that followed the operation, texting at one point, “did u hear about that big sting” and “hearing about that sting made me scared a little bit.”
It was the fifth regional sting operation in the past two years. They have resulted in 83 arrests, including 10 in Shawano County.
The operations originated with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and involved undercover investigators making online contact with suspected offenders.
Detectives posing as juveniles on the Internet were contacted by the suspects who arranged to meet them for a sexual rendezvous. The suspects were arrested when they arrived.
This latest sting effort was dubbed Operation Aegis and was conducted from Oct. 9-11.
Zwicky allegedly made contact with a detective posing as a child during that operation, but the message exchanges never reached the point of setting up a meeting.
However, after the operation wrapped up, Zwicky continued making contact, according to the criminal complaint, finally arranging what he allegedly believed would be a sexual encounter Monday.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Gordon Kowaleski said the arrest of Zwicky, even after Operation Aegis was made public, shows the extent of the problem that exists of Internet predators.
“This is a prime example of the problem we face,” he said. “These people are out there and I don’t see any end to it.”
Kowaleski noted that the number of arrests has gone up with each operation over the past two years, in spite of the publicity that followed those operations.
“It’s not like we’re hiding this,” he said. “What is it going to take to put this to a stop? What more can we do? You would think people would realize that coming to Shawano to meet a 15-year-old girl is not a good idea.”
Kowaleski said the fact that there have been so many arrests during sting operations suggests the likelihood that there are predators who are also meeting with real juveniles as well.
“How will we know how many have been contacted and victimized?” he said.
Zwicky posted a $5,000 cash bond Tuesday after an initial appearance in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court before Judge William Kussel Jr. He is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Monday.
Zwicky brings to 10 the number of people arrested in Shawano County as part of sex sting operations over the last two years.
Three others were arrested during Operation Aegis, each charged with using a computer to facilitate a sex crime.
Jeremy J. Davies, 23, listed as homeless, was bound over for trial after a preliminary hearing Tuesday. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
Troy I. Webster, 35, of Neopit, is free on a $3,000 cash bond and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance Nov. 3.
Orlando A. Brown, 24, of Green Bay, is being held on a $5,000 cash bond and is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Monday.