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Update: Local law enforcement arrest 9 people after undercover operation
By Heidi Bohl
WQOW
October 21, 2014
http://www.wqow.com/story/26829004/2014/10/20/local-law-enforcement-arrest-9-people-after-undercover-operation
[with video]
Eau Claire (WQOW) - Nine people, including a former church worker, have been arrested following an undercover child sex trafficking operation in Eau Claire County.
The men were arrested after responding to an online ads posted by police pretending to be underage children looking for sex or adults looking to traffic a child for sex.
Eight of the nine men were arrested for attempted second degree sexual assault of a child and other felonies. A ninth man, Douglas Regal, was arrested for possessing methamphetamine.
One of the suspects, Chad Shiffer, had been a youth director at Bethesda Lutheran Bretheren Church in Eau Claire. The church's pastor says Shiffer led high school youth groups but has not worked with the church since last June. Several law enforcement agencies involved in the sting released details at a news conference Monday.
"Children are naive in a lot of different ways with the use of the internet for example or they haven't reached that maturity level that adults have. And that's why its against the law to entice and try to traffic and do those sorts of things to children. So it is an unfortunate thing in this world and we will continue to try and root out those people who are doing this to our children. So it's a number one priority for us and it is quite frankly disturbing," said Dan Bresina of the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office.
Bethesda Lutheran Bretheren Church's pastor told us they were just as surprised as everyone else was to learn of the arrest. They say they are praying for all families involved.
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Eau Claire (WQOW) - Police have released the names of the nine people arrested following an undercover child sex trafficking investigation.
They include: John R. Fyksen, Andrew R. Hayhoe, Anthony G. Steen, Juan A Lugues Rios, Justin D. Hanson, Donald R. Anderson, Lucas L. Nelson, and Chad R. Shiffer.
The Eau Claire Police Department says all eight have been arrested on charges of: Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime (a Class C Felony), Attempted child enticement (a Class D Felony), and Attempted second degree sexual assault of a child (a Class C Felony).
Another person, Douglas A. Regal, was arrested in connection to the undercover operation and charged with Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
As part of this effort, on Thursday October 16, 2014 and Friday October 17, 2014 law enforcement officers from The Eau Claire Police Department, Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office, Altoona Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation agencies, in conjunction with the Chippewa Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, conducted an undercover operation that resulted in the arrest of nine individuals. Each of these individuals was arrested after responding to an advertisement for underage children either looking for sex or as an adult who was looking to traffic a child for sex.
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Eau Claire (WQOW) - Police arrested nine people after an undercover operation.
The Eau Claire Police Department, Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office, Altoona Police Department, and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation are working collaboratively to combat the sex trafficking and exploitation of children in the Chippewa Valley.
As part of this effort, on Thursday October 16, 2014 and Friday October 17, 2014 law enforcement officers from these agencies, in conjunction with the Chippewa Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, conducted an undercover operation that resulted in the arrest of nine individuals. Each of these individuals was arrested after responding to an advertisement for underage children either looking for sex or as an adult who was looking to traffic a child for sex.
A news conference will be held this morning with more information. We'll post that information here as soon as we get it.
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