Local man charged with child trafficking, exploitation

A 30-year-old Rhinelander man with a possession of child pornography case pending in Oneida County Circuit Court is facing additional felony charges including child trafficking and sexual exploitation of a child.

In July, the Oneida County district attorney’s office charged Caleb J. Meyer with two counts of possession of child pornography after a cyber tip prompted investigators to request a search warrant for his cellphone. Multiple images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct were located on the phone, according to the complaint.

On Monday, an amended criminal complaint was filed setting forth additional allegations. According to new police reports, further forensic investigation of the phone resulted in the discovery of a social media conversation between Meyer and another person where Meyer admits to sexually assaulting a young person.

Meyer made his initial appearance on the new charges Monday afternoon in front of Judge Mike Schiek. 

Schiek noted that he was familiar with the case, having signed a search warrant for the defendant’s home and set a $150,000 cash bond over the weekend after the defendant was taken into custody.

He then asked Oneida County district attorney Jillian Pfeifer for the state’s position on bond. Pfeifer argued the “change in circumstances” warrants additional cash. She also stressed the “aggravated nature” of the allegations.

For his part, defense attorney Joseph Kaupie noted that the defendant has no prior criminal convictions and has been employed locally for over 10 years.

“Everything about him is very stable in terms of stable address, stable employment, stable relationship,” the attorney said, adding that the defendant is the sole provider for his family and has made all court appearances associated with the possession of child pornography charges.

Schiek ultimately set a $100,000 cash bond and transferred the case to Judge Mary Sowinski who is presiding over the child pornography case.

A status conference before Sowinski was scheduled for this morning.

If convicted of all charges, including the new counts added on Monday, the defendant could spend the rest of his life in prison.