A former high school girls basketball coach is charged in Langlade County with several internet sex counts after an investigation by the Clark County Sheriff's Department. 53-year-old Alan Heistad faces three felonies after authorities say he used the internet to have sexual discussions and eventually try to meet with what he thought was 15-year-old girl.
That girl was actually Detective Jeff Baumgarten, who says that once an investigator sets up an undercover account, it usually doesn't take long to get bites. He says multiple hits usually come into an account within a very short time.
Baumgarten says some of those bites fizzle out, others don't. The Langlade County man began having discussions with the 15-year-old alter ego last October. He says they were in contact every few days as the sting came to a close.
This is a fairly new world for detectives. Entrapment issues could arise if they're not careful. Therefore, they must wait for would-be pedophiles to initiate contact. And, after contact, it may take awhile for an inappropriate act to become an illegal act. Police watch for attempts to initiate real-world contact or share inappropriate material with a minor.
Baumgarten says parents need to be aware of their children's online activities. He recommends putting home computers in open places and keeping them out of bedrooms.
