WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV) – The 37-year-old Wisconsin man who pled guilty to the possession of child pornography and human trafficking in the Philippines was sentenced on Friday to 60 years in prison.
According to a release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Westphal of West Bend was sentenced for felony Trafficking of a Child and three felony counts of child pornography.
Wisconsin officers arrest child exploitation suspect after he returned to juvenile’s workplace
The plea deal forced Westphal to surrender any electronic devices while 21 of the 24 child pornography possession charges were dismissed. The guilty plea and sentencing stem from a multi-agency investigation in 2023 and 2024, headed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators found that Westphal was involved in the human trafficking of a child in the Philippines and owned multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse.
The full sentence is 35 years of initial confinement with 25 years of extended supervision. In the release, Washington County District Attorney Barry Braatz praised the investigators for their work, adding that it sends a message.
UPDATE: Jury trial date set for Green Bay woman accused of stealing from her legal guardian
“This case demonstrates and sends a clear message that the trafficking, exploitation and victimization of children will never be tolerated in this community,” District Attorney Braatz said in the release. “We will work tirelessly with law enforcement to hold these criminals accountable and take dangerous predators off our streets.”
No additional details were provided.
