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Child sex crimes charged

Police describe the man found in a city park with a teenage girl as a “sexual predator.”

Bruce D. Bader, 26, Appleton, faces multiple felony sex charges, including child enticement, child sexual exploitation, possession of child pornography, exposing a child to harmful materials, exposing genitals to a child, and sexual intercourse with a child age 16 or older.

At 7:37 p.m. Aug. 27, New London Police Officer Ben Schmidt was driving through Hatten Park when he noticed a silver Scion parked on the walking trail.

The vehicle was clearly visible from County Trunk X, Schmidt said. The windows were fogged, and there was movement in the car. As he approached the vehicle, Schmidt saw what appeared to be bare skin.

The officer ordered the driver, identified as Bader, to exit the car.

According to the criminal complaint, the driver, identified as Bader, was partially undressed as he exited the car.

Schmidt told Bader the park was not an appropriate place to have sex. He then told the female occupant she needed to exit the car. When she did, Schmidt recognized her as a 16-year-old. Her 17th birthday was six days away.

When Schmidt told Bader the girl was only 16, Bader claimed she told him she was 18.

Schmidt then arrested Bader and obtained a search warrant to view the contents of his cellphone.

Police reported finding text messages between Bader and the girl.

“It is clear after reviewing the messages recovered on the Facebook messenger that Bruce handled himself as a typical sexual predator,” according to a report by New London Police Sgt. Josh Wilson, who is also a local investigator for the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children.

Wilson noted Bader communicated to the girl about sex for nearly two months. At first, she ignored it, then she reminded him of her age.

Bader allegedly persuaded the girl to send him nude photos, which he kept on his phone. He also sent her photos of his genitals, police say.

Wilson said Bader convinced the girl to lie to her mother and meet him.

Bader faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of sexual exploitation of a child and 25 years if convicted of child enticement.
He was released from custody on a $5,000 signature bond.

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