DATE:                 December 18, 2020
CASE:                 Child Pornography Arrest 20-37838 
AUTHORITY:      Lieutenant Tim Kemps

Brady J Wycklendt, 33, was charged last week in Washington County Circuit Court with 15 counts of possession of child pornography as well as several drug charges.  He was arrested on the morning of December 9th by Washington County Sheriff's investigators after a search warrant was executed at his Town of Polk residence.  Numerous electronic devices, a marijuana grow operation and a small number of prescription pills were seized during the raid.

This case originated from a cyber-tip that the Washington County Sheriff's Office received from the Wisconsin Department of Justice in early October.  The images in question involved young children being sexually assaulted by adult-aged men.  We do not believe that the victims are known by Wycklendt.  Wycklendt told investigators that he had searched for child pornography in the past as a means to conduct his own investigation into child pornography.  He never reported any unlawful images to law enforcement.  

The Washington County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau is an active member of the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.  The Internet Crimes against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention, and community education.  Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said, “I am appreciative of law enforcement partnerships like this, which allow us to collaborate as a law enforcement community and bring predators like this to justice."

The investigation revealed that Wycklendt works closely with young autistic children as a behavior therapist.  This is of major concern for the sheriff's office and the community.   The children he worked with can be vulnerable and are in the same age group as the victims in the images that Wycklendt has been charged with.   At this time, we have no indication that any of his clients were victimized.  We have been working closely with his former employers to inform families that have worked with Wycklendt.  Even though formal charges were filed, the investigation remains open.

Wycklendt's bail does not allow him to have any unsupervised contact with minors or internet access. Any former clients of Wycklendt who have information or concerns can contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at (262) 335-4846 or email Investigator Ashley Glamann at [email protected].