Peshtigo man sentenced to prison for sexual exploitation of minor

A Peshtigo man was sentenced Friday to 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 24-year-old Zachary A. Zastawniak admitted during his sentencing hearing that he used social media to coerce numerous minors into sexual acts in Oconto County and northeastern Wisconsin.

Zastawniak was accused of causing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce “a visual depiction” of the minor’s genitals on or about August 23, 2023, and of causing another minor to do so on July 7, 2023.

Chief U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach described the case at the hearing as “horribly aggravated,” saying Zastawniak repeatedly made “bad decisions” and engaged in “monstrous behavior.”

Griesbach praised the courage and bravery of the victims, many of whom spoke during the court’s verdict and cooperated with police.

Griesbach described Zastawniak’s previous involvement in similar crimes as “pretty terrifying.”

Zastawniak faces 26 charges in Oconto County Superior Court, including three counts of child luring for sexual contact, three counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child, four counts of felony bail jumping, two counts of soliciting a child for prostitution, two counts of using a computer to facilitate a sex offense, two counts of threats to communicate derogatory information, one count of child sex trafficking and eight counts of possession of child pornography. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 30.

In addition to the prison sentence, Zastawniak was sentenced to 25 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations, the North Fond du Lac Police Department, the Oconto Falls Police Department, the Oconto Police Department, the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office and the Kingsford, Michigan, Department of Public Safety.

Contact Kevin Dittman at 920-431-8416 or [email protected].