A 36-year-old former carnival worker is facing multiple felony charges after police say he offered a 14-year-old girl money for sex near the dam at Michael Park in Amery. Carl Joseph Choppi, who lists a Rockford, Illinois address, was arrested on September 17 and has since appeared in Polk County court on charges including child enticement, soliciting a child for prostitution, and grooming a child for sexual activity.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Polk County Circuit Court and reported by WQOW, Choppi approached the girl near the dam at Michael Park, a public waterfront space along the Apple River featuring fishing piers and a river overlook, according to the City of Amery. The park sat at the heart of the 77th annual Amery Fall Festival, which ran September 17 through 20 and featured rides by Spectrum Carnival at Bobber Park and a separate food truck village at Michael Park, per the Amery Fall Festival Association.
Court documents state Choppi called the girl beautiful and offered her $100 for sex, then raised the offer to $160 and eventually $260, the station's report indicates. The girl told investigators she understood the offers to mean sexual activity and refused his advances, but stayed with him for approximately 30 minutes, fearing she was going to be sex trafficked before contacting an acquaintance for help. The girl said Choppi offered her money to “have fun with him,” per the same account.
Security Footage and Carnival Coworkers Led Police to Suspect
Police obtained security camera footage from Michael Park showing the girl with a man matching Choppi's description, the complaint states. Carnival workers later identified Choppi as the man captured in that footage. He was arrested in a McDonald's parking lot after the carnival's owner picked him up from a motel at his request, having fired him earlier that same day.
The carnival owner told investigators Choppi was intoxicated when she fired him and said he has issues controlling himself when drinking, according to the complaint cited by the same outlet. She also said she was concerned about the safety of other employees and told police Choppi carried large knives.
Felony Charges Carry Steep Penalties Under Wisconsin Law
Choppi was charged as a repeater due to a prior felony drug conviction in Florida, a designation that under Wisconsin Statute § 939.62 allows courts to add up to four years for an offense with a maximum term of more than one but less than 10 years, or up to six years for an offense with a maximum term over 10 years, for a conviction within the preceding five years. The child enticement count he faces is a Class D felony under Wisconsin Statute § 948.07.
Choppi was held on a $25,000 cash bond following his court appearance.
Preliminary Hearing Set for Next Week in Balsam Lake
Choppi has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 28.
The case unfolded in Amery, in Polk County. All charges against Choppi remain allegations at this stage, and the case will next be tested at the preliminary hearing.
