Sixteen people, including two affiliated with the Green Bay Area School District, were arrested in a four-day operation that targeted people soliciting children for sex online.
A staff member at Keller and Wilder Elementary schools and a bus driver from Lamers who transports students from Keller Elementary and Lombardi Middle School were arrested in the sting, according to a statement that the school district posted online Monday
The staff member was placed on administrative leave while the criminal investigation unfolds, and the district will launch an internal investigation, Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld said in the release.
The bus driver was removed from the route, she added.
Brown County Sheriff John R. Gossage and Door County Sheriff Terry J. Vogel organized the sting, dubbed Operation Black Veil II, as a way of taking the initiative against criminals who target children online.
"First off, this is to let the bad guys know we're out there and that the Internet is not a tool they can use," Vogel said Monday.
He also said the operation is to educate the public.
"Parents need to step up and monitor their kids' Internet usage and know that these people are out there trolling for your kids," Vogel said.
Those arrested are expected to face charges such as use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and child enticement, according to a news release.
This is the third operation of its kind in northeast Wisconsin. The first occurred in October 2012 and netted five arrests. The second, called Operation Black Veil, occurred in March and resulted in 16 arrests.
Not all the suspects had been formally charged as of Monday. According to a Brown County sheriff's office news release:
-- A 28-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in Howard and charged with two counts of child enticement, two counts of use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, exposing genitals to a child, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
-- A 48-year-old man was arrested Thursday in Allouez and charged with use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, child enticement and exposing genitals to a child.
¦Victor V. Iakimenko, 34, was arrested Thursday in Bellevue and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦Aaron D. Dobberfuhl, 28, was arrested Friday in Bellevue and charged with child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and exposing genitals to a child.
¦Jason S. Gehrke, 38, was arrested Friday in Bellevue and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦Bryan J. Bathke, 35, was arrested Friday in Ashwaubenon and charged with child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and exposing genitals to a child.
¦Daniel R. Roggow, 30, was arrested Saturday in Bellevue and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦A 38-year-old man was arrested on Saturday in Ashwaubenon and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦Robert L. Spreeman, 28, was arrested in Marathon County on Saturday and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦A 42-year-old man was arrested Saturday in Oshkosh and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
-- A 21-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in Wausau and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦A 39-year-old man was arrested Friday in Wausau and charged with prostitution.
¦A 23-year-old man was arrested Saturday in Wausau and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦Richard E. Denty, 33, was arrested Saturday in Shawano and charged with use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
¦An 18-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in Outagamie County, and charges of child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime were referred to the Outagamie County district attorney's office.
-- A 50-year-old man was arrested Saturday in Door County and charged with child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.
The following agencies assisted with the operation: Marathon County Sheriff's Department, Shawano County Sheriff's Department, Outagamie County Sheriff's Department, Oshkosh Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Shawano Police Department.
