RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU) — Rhinelander police say they’ve arrested another Northwoods man as part of a recent sting operation to catch child predators.
Robert Ney of Merrill was arrested at the Rhinelander Shopko store when he thought he was going to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, according to a criminal complaint. Ney was said to be in possession of condoms at the time of the arrest, which he initially told officers were old but later admitted to purchasing on his way to me the girl.
When officers met Ney he told them he only wanted to take the girl to breakfast and give her a peck on the cheek. When officers showed him the messages they exchanged he said he couldn’t remember sending them.
He appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of attempted second-degree sexual assault and using a computer to facilitate a sex crime. A judge set cash bond at $5,000 under the condition that he does not possess any devices that can connect to the internet.
Ney returns to court April 29th for his adjourned initial appearance and could face up to 60 years in prison if found guilty.
