⏱ 2 min read
A 19-year-old Manitowoc resident, Maurilio Mares, has been indicted on charges of child obscenity and committing a felony sex offense as a registered sex offender. The alleged crimes occurred on two separate dates in May 2026, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Mares is accused of obscene visual depictions of the sexual abuse of children and committing a new offense against a child while required to register as a sex offender. The investigation was led by the City of Manitowoc Police Department, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
The indictment, announced on August 11, 2026, by First Assistant United States Attorney Brad D. Schimel, carries severe penalties. If convicted of either child obscenity offense, Mares faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 40 years. Additionally, if convicted of committing a new offense against a child while required to register as a sex offender, he must serve a mandatory 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet and to identify and rescue victims.
The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, where the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Wisconsin
- Location: WI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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