MADISON, WIS. -- Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that he will present a check in the amount of $153,660.07 to Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden today, representing the proceeds from the sale of convicted sex offender David Wenzel’s property. The property was sold through the Federal Asset Forfeiture Program because Wenzel, 59, used his home to manufacture child pornography.
On March 26, 2015, members of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Wenzel’s residence after receiving a report that he had a video camera hidden in his bathroom. Among the items seized were DVDs and mini VHS tapes. Officers viewed these tapes and found eight videos of Wenzel sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl who appeared to be drugged. They also found videos of adults who had been taped by the camera hidden in the bathroom.
On February 4, 2016, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb sentenced Wenzel to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. In addition to this prison term, Judge Crabb ordered that Wenzel forfeit to the government the property where he filmed the assaults.
The charge against Wenzel was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. Anderson commended Sheriff Spoden and his staff for the outstanding investigation. The prosecution of the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
