Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury indicted Matthew W. Tolkinen, 53, from Wadena, Minnesota, on November 19, 2024. The indictment includes two counts related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Court documents reveal that Tolkinen engaged in an online conversation with an undercover officer from the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office posing as a 12-year-old girl. During this interaction, Tolkinen expressed his desire to engage in sexual activities with the child and described his plans in detail. He also requested explicit photographs and warned about potential pain during the planned activity.

Tolkinen was arrested in Minnesota on November 20, 2024. Investigators found conversations with the undercover officer on his phone and noted that he searched for directions to Appleton, Wisconsin, on the day of his indictment.

He appeared before Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach on December 5, 2024, where he was ordered detained. His trial is set for February 10, 2025.

Tolkinen is already a registered sex offender due to a previous conviction in Ramsey County, Minnesota, in 2018 for soliciting a child for sexual conduct.

The charges against him include attempting to exploit a minor and persuading them into sexually explicit conduct under Title 18 of the United States Code Section 2251(a). Additionally, he faces charges under Section 2260A for committing a felony involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. A conviction could result in at least 25 years in federal prison.

The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.

This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a U.S. Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources across various levels of law enforcement to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.

An indictment is merely an accusation; Tolkinen remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.

For further information contact Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales at (414) 297-1700 or follow updates on Twitter.