LIBERTY – Village of Liberty Police have arrested two more men in an ongoing undercover investigation targeting people who use the internet and social media to sexually exploit children, authorities said.
Matthew Wunner, 31, of Kiamesha Lake, was arrested Aug. 19 after an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old allegedly communicated with him online. Police said Wunner requested sexually explicit photographs from the person he believed was a child.
Wunner was charged with attempted promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, a felony. He was issued an appearance ticket and directed to appear in Town of Liberty Court.
Seth Tremper, 21, of Swan Lake, was arrested Sept. 8 after an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old allegedly engaged in sexually explicit online communications with him. Police said Tremper attempted to invite the person he believed was a child to engage in sexual conduct and requested nude photographs.
Tremper was charged with attempted disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree and attempted promoting a sexual performance by a child, both felonies. He also was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Tremper was arrested at his workplace in Livingston Manor, where police said he was employed as a school bus aide. The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer Division assisted in the investigation.
The arrests follow an August announcement of Operation Dangerous DMs, an undercover initiative conducted by Liberty police targeting online communications with people believed to be children. The operation previously resulted in six arrests.
Police Chief Steven D’Agata said the department will continue conducting undercover investigations aimed at identifying suspects before an actual child becomes a victim.
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