EMMET COUNTY, MI – An Iowa man whom police allege had been grooming a Northern Michigan child in an online relationship for some time was arrested after he was caught with the minor in Illinois, officers said.
This alleged child exploitation case centers around William Joseph Gatchel II, 24, of Grimes, Iowa. He is being charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct toward a person ages 13 to 15, and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.
Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein said a fast, coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies resulted in Gatchel’s arrest after police were alerted that a child had not arrived at their school in the Harbor Springs area…