An Appleton man and registered sex offender was arrested June 8 on multiple allegations related to the sexual assault of a child, according to the Appleton Police Department.
The 26-year-old man was arrested at his home and booked into the Outagamie County Jail.
Police said the investigation began after the man met a child under the age of 16 at a public location. The man, who falsely claimed to be 17 years old, was not previously known to the child, authorities said.
Investigators allege the man continued to communicate with the child in person and through electronic means after the initial encounter.
Police said they became aware of the incident after the child suspected the man was older than he claimed and attempted to distance themself from him out of fear.
The man was booked on allegations of repeated first-degree sexual assault of the same child, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, child enticement, sending obscene or sexually explicit electronic messages, grooming of a child for sexual activity and a probation violation.
Police said no evidence exists that other children in the Appleton area were harmed.
The investigation remains active, and no additional information will be immediately released.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Officer Jason Schmitz of the Appleton Police Department at 920-832-5500.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Appleton man arrested in child sexual assault investigation
Reporting by Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
