Mason resident charged for soliciting a child in Indiana
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The now-former vice chair of Mason’s Planning Commission is in the Wells County Jail in Indiana after being arraigned on charges including soliciting a child “to engage in sexual intercourse.”
Seth A. Waxman was charged in Wells Circuit Court, before Judge Kenton Kiracofe, Monday morning on three charges. He faces a charge of child solicitation — solicitation to engage in sexual intercourse or other conduct; a charge of legend drug deception, knowingly possessing a contraband legend drug; and possession of a controlled substance.
Waxman is currently in the Wells County jail in Indiana, just outside of Fort Wayne, IN. He was arrested by the Bluffton, IN police department, an official confirmed Monday evening.
A community group with the goal of “protecting our communities and youth against online child predators” has taken credit for Waxman’s arrest.
The group, Predator Catchers Inc. Indianapolis, livestreamed his arrest.
In the video, volunteers from the group can be seen and heard waiting for Waxman to arrive at a local Walmart in the Bluffton, IN area. When they identify him, the volunteers approach the former official and confront him.
Waxman tells the volunteers they should “have the conversation outside.” The volunteers agree and walk with him, while asking questions, to the front of the store.
As the volunteers and Waxman approach the front doors, a deputy from the Wells County Sheriff’s Department approaches. He asks Waxman for his identification and Waxman then asks if he is being detained. The deputy confirms he is.
Officers from the Bluffton Police Department placed Waxman in handcuffs and into the backseat of one of their patrol vehicles. The volunteers tell law enforcement they have some of the online chats with Waxman in their possession. They hand law enforcement a red folder. While one officer reviews the printed chats, the volunteers are questioned about their interaction with Waxman.
Mason Mayor Russell Whipple tells 6 News Waxman submitted his resignation, effective immediately, Monday afternoon via email. He tells 6 News the resignation was sent from Waxman’s email address to Whipple’s email. Whipple had no further comment.
Waxman resigned from the Planning Commission Monday afternoon, Mason City Councilwoman Rita Vogel tells 6 News by text message.
Vogel has known Waxman since they were students at Mason Middle School. She issued the following statement in response to news of his arrest:
“Recently I was made aware of the arrest of Seth Waxman, vice-chair of the Mason Planning Commission and my friend, in the city of Bluffton, Indiana. Details are few but I want to note that I believe survivors and will always stand with victims of sexual trafficking. While we think we may know good friends, many of us know that some people can hide very deep dark secrets. I am as shocked as many of you that this has occurred. I had no knowledge of any transgression prior and would have taken seriously reports of this nature because I stand with survivors,” she wrote in a text to 6 News. “Until additional information comes to light, I will have no further comment on this matter.”
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