Fox Lake Man Arrested for Child Pornography Possession

Dodge County Sheriff's Office investigation leads to charges against 18-year-old Samuel Lathrop

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Dodge County Sheriff's Office has arrested an 18-year-old Fox Lake man, Samuel Lathrop, on charges of possession of child pornography. The investigation was initiated after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is being led by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations Digital Forensics Unit.

Why it matters

Crimes involving the exploitation of minors are a serious concern for law enforcement and the community. This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts to identify and apprehend individuals engaged in the possession and distribution of child pornography, which can have devastating impacts on victims.

The details

According to authorities, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which led them to investigate Samuel Lathrop, an 18-year-old resident of Fox Lake. The investigation resulted in Lathrop's arrest on Wednesday, February 25th, and the Dodge County District Attorney's Office is now reviewing charges of possession of child pornography.

  • On Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, Samuel Lathrop was booked into the Dodge County Jail.

The players

Samuel Lathrop

An 18-year-old resident of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, who has been arrested on charges of possession of child pornography.

Dodge County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency leading the investigation into Samuel Lathrop and the possession of child pornography charges.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The organization that provided the tip to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office that initiated the investigation.

Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations Digital Forensics Unit

The agency that assisted the Dodge County Sheriff's Office in the investigation.

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What’s next

The Dodge County District Attorney's Office will review the charges against Samuel Lathrop and determine whether to formally file the possession of child pornography charges.

The takeaway

This arrest underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to identify and apprehend individuals engaged in the exploitation of minors through the possession and distribution of child pornography. The collaboration between local authorities, state agencies, and national organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is crucial in these types of investigations.