A 26-year-old man has been charged with sex crimes after he allegedly posed as a teenager and attended two Nebraska high schools.
Zachary Scheich, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds, is accused of using the alias Zak Hess to enroll at Northwest High School in Lincoln in August 2022.
He then transferred to Southeast High School in January 2023.
Pint-Sized 26-Year-Old Man Charged with Sex Crimes
Scheich is accused of having sexual contact with at least one student at Northwest High School.
He is also accused of sending inappropriate text messages to students at both schools.
Scheich was arrested on July 21, 2023. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault of a minor, two counts of attempted sexual assault of a minor, and one count of electronic solicitation of a minor.
Scheich is being held in the Lancaster County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 8, 2023.
The investigation into Scheich is ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact them.
Authorities Are Warning Parents to Be Vigilant
The authorities are warning parents to be vigilant about who their children are interacting with online and in person. They are also urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of online predators.
“This is a reminder to parents to talk to their children about online safety,” said Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister. “There are people out there who will try to take advantage of children, and it’s important that parents are aware of the risks.”
Parents can take steps to protect their children from online predators, such as:
- Talk to their children about online safety and the dangers of talking to strangers online.
- Monitor their children’s online activity.
- Use parental controls on their children’s devices.
- Teach their children about the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to a trusted adult.
If you have any concerns about your child’s safety, please contact the authorities.
