The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department
of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Oneida County Sheriff’s
Office participated in a two-day undercover online child exploitation enforcement
operation on August 3 and 4, 2026.
The operation focused on identifying and apprehending individuals who used online
communication platforms to arrange sexual encounters with children. During the
operation, investigators posed as minors in online conversations with individuals who
believed they were communicating with children. Those who took steps toward meeting a
child for sexual purposes were arrested and will be referred for prosecution based on the
evidence gathered during the investigation.
These proactive investigations are designed to identify individuals who seek to exploit
children before they can victimize an actual child. Operations such as this demonstrate the
commitment of participating agencies to protecting children, holding offenders
accountable, and reducing the threat of child exploitation within our communities.
“The safety of our children remains one of our highest priorities,” said Sheriff Koxlien.
“By working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, we are able to identify
predators, intervene before children are harmed, and send a clear message that those who
target children will be investigated and prosecuted.”
The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Wisconsin Department
of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for
their partnership and assistance in making this operation a success and the Osseo Police
Department for their assistance.
Because the investigation is ongoing and criminal cases are pending, no additional
information regarding the identities of those arrested or the specific charges will be
released at this time. Additional information may be released as it becomes available
through the court process.
The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office encourages parents and guardians to remain
actively involved in their children’s online activities, discuss internet safety, and report any
suspected child exploitation to local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children CyberTipline at http://www.cybertipline.com
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