Felony charges requested in child exploitation case
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has referred charges to the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation into allegations involving 19-year-old Austin Scaletta of Twin Lakes.
The investigation began July 24, 2026, after the Sheriff’s Office received information through the Speak Up Speak Out reporting system alleging that Scaletta had inappropriate communications with minors through Snapchat.
Scaletta previously volunteered with the Wisconsin National Guard and assisted them with a program at Wilmot High School. The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that none of the alleged conduct occurred at Wilmot High School, and the investigation has not identified any connection between the alleged offenses and the school, its students, or school operations.
Wilmot High School administration notified parents about the investigation in an email on Aug. 27, 2026.
Investigators obtained preservation requests and a search warrant for relevant Snapchat account records. The investigation identified sexually explicit communications with minors, including a 13-year-old. During an August 20, 2026, interview, Scaletta admitted that he communicated with the juvenile through Snapchat and asked her to engage in sexual acts, knowing she was 13 years old.
The Snapchat records also led investigators to identify a 16-year-old. Scaletta possessed nine sexually explicit images and videos of that juvenile that had been saved within Snapchat conversations. Scaletta was arrested on August 20.
Scaletta is charged with the following:
- Nine felony counts of possession of child pornography, Wis. Stat. § 948.12(1m).
- Two felony counts of expose child to harmful material, Wis. Stat. § 948.11(2)(a).
- One felony count of sexual misconduct by school staff or volunteer, Wis. Stat. § 948.098(2).
“The safety of children is not negotiable,” Sheriff David Zoerner said. “Anyone who exploits, solicits or targets a child, whether in person or online, will be investigated thoroughly and held accountable under the law. Our deputies and detectives will continue to pursue every available lead to protect children, support victims and bring these cases forward for prosecution.”
The investigation involved coordination with law enforcement agencies in Illinois and Wisconsin. Information related to separate incidents identified during the investigation was referred to the appropriate jurisdictions for follow-up.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
