MADISON, WIS. — An Austin man was arrested in Wisconsin on Thursday after authorities said he used email and text messages to attempt to persuade a minor into sexual activity.
Wisconsin officials said Robert Hosler, 26, of Austin, Texas, responded to an advertisement posted on the Internet, which offered a 13-year-old girl for sexual purposes. The ad was posted by an undercover law enforcement officer, officials said.
An affidavit obtained by KVUE said that an undercover detective posted the ad, "Single mom of
13yo dau looking for swap or other arrangements" on Aug. 7.
On Aug.12, an individual with the user name Roger Smith, later identified as Hosler, used a Gmail account to reply to the advertisement stating, "Saw your post, I'm interested in the goods," according to the affidavit. On Aug. 13, the detective replied, "ok where are you located." Hosler said he was in Texas and the undercover detective responded, "sorry too far. We are in Wisconsin."
Five days later, on Aug. 18, Hosler said, "I can arrange travel arrangements," according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said that on Aug. 21, Hosler and the undercover detective discussed when and where a meeting would take place, and then Hosler messaged, "ok, how much will the goods be and how long?" The detective responded, "For a hour I could do $200." Hosler then asked, "Ok, so if say I wanted the weekend, that wouldn't be possible? If not, that's fine, I can do hour."
Hosler and the undercover detective then continued the conversation in an email chain on Aug. 21 about a price agreement and discussed in explicit detail what sexual services could be performed.
The affidavit said that on Aug. 30, Hosler sent a flight itinerary to the detective -- who was posing as the 13-year-old girl's mother -- indicating he would fly on a Frontier Airlines flight from Austin to Minneapolis on Sept. 6. and return on Sept. 9. On the itinerary Hosler sent, his name and other personal information was blacked out, according to the affidavit.
However, the detective contacted Frontier Airlines later that same day and was able to confirm Hosler's identity using the information from the itinerary Hosler sent.
After Hosler discussed with the detective how he would get from Minnesota to the prearranged meeting spot in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, they agreed Hosler would rent a car and $100 would be taken off of the price of having sex with the child, according to the affidavit.
Hosler arrived at the prearranged meeting location in Eau Claire and he was arrested. According to the affidavit, officers searched Hosler's rental car and found a GoPro kit, a handheld camcorder, and children's lingerie in a backpack. They also found prescription sleeping pills in his possession, the affidavit said.
Hosler appeared in a Wisconsin court room on Friday, where he was ordered to be held in federal custody, officials said. His next appearance in federal court is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2018.
Hosler faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison, if he is convicted.