A 27-year-old Sun Prairie man is behind bars after police say he sexually assaulted a child who had been reported missing in Illinois, then brought the child across state lines to Wisconsin. Authorities say the child was transported from Harvard, Ill., to Sun Prairie and has since been returned to family and is safe. The suspect, identified by police as Chase Schroeder, was arrested Wednesday and is being held on a federal probation warrant while the investigation continues.
According to Sun Prairie police, the case began when the Harvard Police Department filed a missing-child report. Investigators allege Schroeder contacted the child through social media and arranged a rideshare to bring the child from Illinois to Sun Prairie. The child was later found and reunited with family, as reported by FOX47.
Charges and police response
Sun Prairie police say they are referring multiple charges to the county district attorney’s office, including first-degree sexual assault of a child under 12, sexual exploitation of a child, child enticement, use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime and possession of child pornography. The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted local officers in tracking down and arresting the suspect.
"Our message is simple: if you harm a child, you will be found, and you will be held accountable," Sun Prairie Police Chief Kevin Warych said at a press conference, according to FOX47.
Prior conviction and registry
Public registry records list Schroeder as an active registrant on Wisconsin’s sex-offender registry and note a 2019 conviction in Texas for possession of images involving a minor. Online offender databases place Schroeder in Sun Prairie and show the earlier Texas conviction, according to OffenderRadar.
Resources and advice for parents
Police say they are urging parents and guardians to talk regularly with children about who they interact with online and which apps, games and social platforms they are using. Families looking for guidance on internet safety can find tips and educational materials through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s NetSmartz program (NetSmartz).
