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What is it that makes seemingly intelligent people do incredibly stupid things?
Did Michael C. Sprinkel ever watch the creepy Dateline NBC series "To Catch a Predator"?
Has he ever seen one of the Internet sex sting reports of TMJ4's John Mercure?
You would think by now every sicko out there would be aware of stings.
Brookfield -- A Brookfield East High School social studies teacher and coach arrested last week in an Internet sex investigation was suspended without pay Monday, Elmbrook School District officials said.
Elmbrook officials attempted to meet and speak with Michael C. Sprinkel, 41, about the case, but Sprinkel's attorney advised him not to, said Christine Hedstrom, Elmbrook's assistant superintendent for human resources.
"We wanted him to respond to the charges," Hedstrom said, noting that Sprinkel was immediately suspended because he would not.
Sprinkel was arrested Thursday night and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana on three counts of computer-aided solicitation for sexual purposes, three counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and one count of pornography involving juveniles, according to an arrest warrant filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.
Sprinkel, of Sussex, thought he was chatting on the Internet with a 15-year-old girl when he exposed himself using a Web cam, according to court records. He was communicating, however, with a Louisiana police officer, according to court records.
Louisiana authorities obtained a copy of Sprinkel's driver's license photo and used that in identifying him as the man who is accused of exposing himself on the Internet, the records say.
The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department on Friday filed a search warrant seeking to obtain computers, Web cameras and computer software and hardware from Sprinkel's home.
Meanwhile, Elmbrook district officials reviewed Sprinkel's school computer's hard drive and files for anything inappropriate, Hedstrom said.
"The reports thus far are there is no unusual traffic on his computer," she said.
School officials have asked any students who may have knowledge of inappropriate behavior by the teacher to come forward.
"We are not aware of any complaints against this teacher from students or people he's coached," Hedstrom said.
It appears that Sprinkel had enough sense not to use his school computers for his illegal activities. So far, it seems that he didn't prey on students.
But I still don't understand how adults like Sprinkel can be so stupid, not to mention perverted?
These online solicitations are such reckless things to do and part of a really weird lifestyle.
This teacher and coach, supposedly a role model for kids, should have known better.
When you're online, you really don't know who you're talking to. You're not anonymous. You don't have cover to break laws. You certainly shouldn't put your conscience on hold when you go online.
Actually, it's a good thing that Sprinkel was so stupid that he got caught allegedly engaging in the illegal behavior.
That Louisiana police officer posing as a 15-year-old girl spared who knows how many young girls from Sprinkel's alleged Internet advances and perversion.
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