Protecting Children: Zoerner's Sheriff's Office Takes Decisive Action Against Child Exploitation

Sheriff David Zoerner believes there is no greater responsibility in law enforcement than protecting children from those who seek to exploit them. Under his leadership, the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department has made investigating internet crimes against children and holding child predators accountable a top priority.

In 2023, the Sheriff's Department's Sensitive Crimes Unit received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the online distribution of suspected child sexual abuse material by a Kenosha County resident. Detectives immediately launched a comprehensive investigation to identify the individual responsible and gather the evidence necessary for prosecution.

After completing the investigation, detectives executed search warrants at the suspect's residence, where multiple electronic devices were seized for forensic examination. The suspect later surrendered to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and was taken into custody.

The investigation resulted in numerous felony charges related to the possession and exploitation of child sexual abuse material. The case remained under active investigation as detectives continued working to identify any additional evidence and ensure every victim received justice.

"Children deserve to grow up safe from exploitation and abuse. The men and women of the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department will continue to aggressively investigate these horrific crimes, work with our state and federal partners, and bring offenders to justice. We will never stop fighting to protect the most vulnerable members of our community."

Sheriff Zoerner has continued to invest in specialized investigators, advanced digital forensic capabilities, and partnerships with organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to combat internet crimes against children. His commitment is unwavering: predators who exploit children will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Because this case involved allegations of crimes against children, the Sheriff's Office limited the public release of investigative details to protect the integrity of the case and the privacy of potential victims.