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A 27-year-old man who posed as a Nebraska high school student to prey on teenage ladies has been sentenced to 85 to 120 years in jail, in keeping with a number of reviews.
Zachary Scheich, who was identified by friends as 17-year-old “Zak Hess,” disguised himself as a highschool scholar for greater than 50 days to use and sexually assault over a dozen ladies, with some being as younger as 13, the Washington Post and KOLN reported.
Scheich blended in with different college students utilizing his 5 ft 4-inch top and 120-pound stature, Lincoln police mentioned. He attended a number of colleges all through the Lincoln Public Colleges District.
Though Scheich handed as a scholar, in actuality, he had graduated from the identical district in 2015, Lincoln Police Division assistant chief Brian Jackson mentioned at a news conference in July 2023.
USA TODAY contacted Lancaster County officers on Monday however didn’t obtain a response. It’s unclear who Scheich’s authorized illustration is.
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Choose scolds Zachary Scheich throughout sentencing listening to
Lancaster District Choose Darla S. Ideus handed down the sentence on Sept. 11 on fees of sexual assault, little one enticement with digital communication and producing sexually specific photographs of kids, the Washington Put up reported. Scheich didn’t discuss throughout his sentencing listening to, however he as an alternative submitted a letter to the decide that was not learn aloud in courtroom, in keeping with the outlet.
The prolonged sentence comes after Scheich pleaded no contest in July as a part of a plea deal to scale back the variety of felony counts towards him from 15 to 5.
“The youngsters you exploited weren’t geared up to guard themselves as a result of they thought you had been their peer,” Ideus mentioned through the temporary sentencing listening to,” Ideus mentioned through the sentencing hearing, per the Put up.
How did Zachary Scheich get caught?
The investigation in Scheich started on June 1, when Lincoln police had been contacted by the varsity district. The district had found that an individual was impersonating a scholar through the 2022-23 college 12 months utilizing the title Zak Hess.
Hess, who was secretly Scheich, enrolled at Northwest Excessive College through the first semester and later transferred to Southeast Excessive College through the second semester. Investigators would quickly discover out Hess was a 26-year-old who graduated from Lincoln Public Colleges in 2015.
College data revealed Scheich went to the faculties below the Hess alias for a complete of 54 days, police mentioned.
‘I’m purported to really feel protected at school’
Throughout the sentencing listening to, Ideus learn an affect assertion from one of many ladies Scheich had victimized.
“I’m purported to really feel protected at school, and I now not really feel protected in a spot that I used to,” Ideus learn from the lady’s letter, per the Put up. “I’m so guarded that anybody who tries to speak to me or get to know me, I shut it down. I by no means imagine what anybody says anymore. My belief is so damaged, that even when I need to imagine somebody, I can’t.”
Deputy Lancaster County Lawyer Amber Schlote known as the hurt to Scheich’s victims immeasurable, because it led them to overlook college, endure failing grades and have nervousness, disgrace and a deep distrust of adults.
“It has undeniably altered their life’s trajectories,” Schlote mentioned, in keeping with the Put up.
Together with Scheich, a 23-year-old girl faces prison impersonation fees associated to the case. Angela Navarro pleaded not responsible and maintains she was manipulated by Scheich, KOLN reported. She was arrested on Sept. 29, 2023, in keeping with the TV station.
Navarro, who police say was 22 on the time, posed as Scheich’s mom whereas utilizing the alias “Danielle Hess” to attend conferences with college counselors, KOLN mentioned, citing an arrest affidavit. Navarro stays free on bond and is awaiting trial.
What did Lincoln Public Colleges say about Zachary Scheich?
Lincoln Public Colleges despatched out an alert to households at Northwest and Southeast Excessive Colleges, police mentioned. In accordance with paperwork offered to USA TODAY by the varsity division, the alert gave households a breakdown of what occurred.
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October 20, 2022: He started attending Northwest Excessive College.
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January 12, 2023: He transferred to Southeast Excessive College.
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Might 31: The college district acquired a report that an grownup male could also be attending certainly one of its excessive colleges pretending to be a junior. The district’s scholar companies and safety division contacted the police and turned the data over to the police because it was found.
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July: Police confirmed that Zachary Scheich did enroll and attend two excessive colleges through the 2022-23 college 12 months below the title Zak Hess.
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He was arrested in July 2023.
Lincoln Public Colleges Superintendent Paul Gausman and Affiliate Superintendent for Instructional Companies Matt Larson spoke to neighborhood members in July 2023 and mentioned the district gave out Hess’s image to varsities and allow them to know he was now not allowed on the premises whereas police tried to substantiate his id.
The officers additionally mentioned the district follows state and federal necessities for enrolling college students, which might be completed on-line or in particular person. No matter whether or not somebody applies on-line or in particular person, the district requests a delivery certificates, immunization data, physicals and transcripts, college directors mentioned.
The district defined that the person exploited the enrollment course of through the use of pretend paperwork. Now, enrollment processes might be reviewed.
Additional safeguards have been put into place, corresponding to a number of in-person conversations with mother and father and guardians who’re attempting to enroll college students. District officers additionally mentioned it would proceed to accommodate households whose schedules don’t enable for a number of conferences.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Zachary Scheich sentenced for impersonating high school student
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