The child pornography offense was committed in the Northern
District of Alabama, and through the cooperative efforts of the respective
United States Attorneys for each district, was consolidated for a guilty plea
and sentencing in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
On August 6, 2018, a Manitowoc County resident reported to
law enforcement that her 15-year-old granddaughter ran away from home. The
Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department immediately investigated and, with
subsequent assistance from the Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Marshals Service, determined
that Zachary S. Gauthier had met the granddaughter online and took her on a
multi-state and weeks’ long trip ending in Parrish, Alabama. Gauthier had
introduced himself to the grandmother using a fake name, representing that he
wanted the granddaughter to babysit his young daughter. Then, throughout the
cross-country trip and at a rented trailer in Alabama, Gauthier repeatedly
sexually assaulted the granddaughter. He also knowingly searched for,
downloaded, and possessed child pornography on his mobile phone in Alabama.
Gauthier was arrested in Alabama by Deputy U.S. Marshals in early November
2018, after the granddaughter discovered child pornography on Gauthier’s phone.
Meanwhile, on August 10, 2018, the State of Wisconsin issued
a warrant for Gauthier’s arrest because he absconded from extended supervision,
which he was serving after being released from prison on two counts of
negligent homicide by operation of a motor vehicle. Following his arrest in
November 2018, Gauthier was extradited from Alabama to Wisconsin, his
supervision was revoked, and he was ordered to serve another six years in state
prison on the negligent homicide charges.
“Gauthier’s horrific crimes underscore the epidemic of child
exploitation in our country,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “I commend the excellent work of the
Manitowoc Sheriff’s Office, the Manitowoc District Attorney’s Office, and our
federal and state partners, from across the country, whose collaboration
brought Gauthier to justice. Predators
like Gauthier should take note that decades in federal prison await them.”
“These crimes are detestable and our investigators and
prosecutors will remain ever vigilant in protecting victims,” said U.S.
Attorney Jay E. Town, Northern District of Alabama. “He will now spend the next 20 years in bed
space reserved for him in a federal prison.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Hughes stated: “I
commend the work of our FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. This case is a clear
example that those who prey on children will get law enforcement’s full
attention – federal, state and local.
“Child sex predators have no boundaries when targeting their victims and
transporting them interstate. However,
collectively law enforcement has a very long reach and will pursue them
wherever they run to ensure they are caught and brought to justice.”
“We would like to thank our numerous federal, state, and
local law enforcement partners who assisted with the investigation and
apprehension of Zachery Gauthier. Detective Bret Oswald was instrumental in his
efforts to see this case through to a successful completion.” said Manitowoc
County Sheriff Dan Hartwig
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Tim Funnell. This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s
Department, the Manitowoc County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, and the United States Marshals Service.
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