For the Tomahawk Leader
WAUSAU – A Rhinelander man is facing a felony charge of trafficking a child, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said in a release from Monday, Sept. 21.
According to the release, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, Paul Osterman, 34, of Rhinelander, was arrested by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Rhinelander Police Department for sex trafficking of a child.
“The arrest is a result of a two year investigation conducted by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force,” the release stated. “These agencies received Cyber Tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding messages that were being intercepted on the internet from a person looking to have sexual contact with a child. During the investigation, Osterman attempted to obtain a child for the purpose of having sex with that child.”
Four search warrants were served in Oneida County on Sept. 21 as part of this investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and other charges may be pending, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Osterman was scheduled to appear in Marathon County court on Friday, Sept. 25 for a review hearing, along with a Sept. 28 indigency hearing and a Sept. 30 preliminary hearing, according to court records.
The Tomahawk Police Department, the Rhinelander Police Department, the Wausau Police Department and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.