By SYDNEY KENT
Both men caught attempting to solicit a child for sex at Walmart in Bluffton last Saturday have pled not guilty to their charges.
Now-former Michigan planning commissioner, Seth Waxman, 39, was charged with a Level 4 felony for child solicitation, as well as one count of knowingly possessing a contraband legend drug, a Level 6 felony, and possession of controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. His bond is set at $11,500.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Waxman purchased a room at a local motel the night before his arrest. A search of Waxman’s room revealed 29 pills identified as a form of Viagra, Plan B, a camera tripod, expired condoms and testosterone gel.
In text messages with the decoy “Katie,” Waxman directly says, “Sorry, I have to go out of state to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.”
Waxman’s GMC Acadia contained a mostly empty bag of THC gummies, several boxes of Narcan and an old straw with white residue.
During booking at the jail, Waxman allegedly refused to answer any questions related to medical conditions, suicidal ideations or prescriptions. He was cleared at Bluffton Regional Medical Center despite his refusal to answer questions from medical personnel.
Jail staff located additional loose pills of generic Viagra in Waxman’s pocket. Waxman is scheduled for a pretrial conference at 1 p.m. on June 26 in the Wells Circuit Court.
Clifford Dale Koch, 39, Bellville, Ohio, was charged with one count of child solicitation, a Level 4 felony, and one count of resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
In a live-streamed video on the PCI Youtube page, Koch is seen walking at a brisk pace towards the exit of the store after he is confronted by PCI member Eric Schmutte.
“You’re a registered sex offender aren’t you?” Schmutte asked.
“I am, yes” Koch responds in the video.
Koch exits the store and immediately begins running through the North end of the parking lot. He was arrested in trees nearby moments later.
Koch’s bond is set at $6,500. The matter is scheduled for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. on June 26 in the Wells Circuit Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
