Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Traveling to Abuse Child

Zachary Vogt received 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting and recording a minor in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Zachary J. Vogt, a 20-year-old man from West Chester, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for traveling to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to sexually abuse and record a minor child, despite being warned to cease contact with the victim.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious threat of online predators who exploit and abuse minors, and the need for strong law enforcement action and lengthy prison sentences to deter such crimes and protect vulnerable children.

The details

Vogt began corresponding online with a minor in Oshkosh in October 2024, and the exchanges quickly became sexual in nature. After the child's parents warned Vogt to cease contact, he ignored the warning and traveled from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin in June 2025 to sexually abuse the child and record the abuse on his cellphone. Law enforcement later recovered the images and arrested Vogt.

  • In October 2024, Vogt began corresponding online with a minor in Oshkosh.
  • In June 2025, Vogt traveled from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin to sexually abuse the child.
  • Law enforcement subsequently recovered the images and arrested Vogt.

The players

Zachary J. Vogt

A 20-year-old man from West Chester, Pennsylvania who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually abusing and recording a minor child in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

U.S. District Court Judge Byron B. Conway

The judge who sentenced Vogt, noting the serious nature of the offense and the need to deter others from enticing children online and protect the public from online sexual predators.

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What they’re saying

“This defendant is clearly a sick and dangerous individual. He was given the chance to terminate his online sexually explicit activity with the child but ignored that warning and escalated his criminal conduct by crossing multiple states to sexually exploit the child. The only way to keep the community safe from him is to lock him up. The law enforcement community has no higher priority than to protect our kids, and if you harm them, we are coming for you.”

— U.S. Attorney Schimel (fox11online.com)

What’s next

Following his release from federal prison, Vogt will spend 15 years on supervised release and will be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical need for vigilance against online predators who seek to exploit and abuse children, and the importance of strong law enforcement action and lengthy prison sentences to deter such heinous crimes and protect vulnerable youth.