Local pastor charged with child enticement

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

A Twin Lakes pastor and Trevor resident stands accused of three felonies, including attempted child enticement in Winnebago County.

Josh Scheil
Josh Scheil

Joshua Scheil, who was being held on $10,000 cash bond Monday in Winnebago County Circuit Court, was arrested in Oshkosh April 12 following an undercover Child Enticement Operation by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes Division.

The 29-year-old Scheil faces charges of attempted child Enticement, using a computer to facilitate a sex crime and causing a child 13 or under to view or listen to sexual activity.

According to the Oshkosh Northwestern, if convicted, Scheil faces maximum imprisonment of 71 years.

The Northwestern reported Scheil was in Oshkosh for a pastors’ conference, where he allegedly planned to meet a 13-year-old girl.

In a news release issued by the Winnebago County Sheriff and obtained from the Northwestern, Scheil allegedly made contact with an undercover agent in March believing the agent was a 13-year-old girl.

“The undercover analyst was identified multiple times as a 13-year-old female from the Oshkosh area,” the release states. “(Scheil) indicated he would be in the Oshkosh area on April 11th through the 13th, and would be staying in a hotel.”

Scheil is accused of sending explicit messages and images from computer and cell phone leading up to his April 12 arrest.

On April 12, he allegedly arranged a meeting with the undercover agent, who arrested him at an area hotel.

According to multiple media outlets and a church website, he serves as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Twin Lakes.

Writers note: The church has since removed Scheil’s biography from its website.

Scheil is due for a May 2 preliminary hearing in Winnebago County Circuit Court.


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