Case against Manitowoc man charged with 10 counts of possessing child porn set for preliminary hearing
Justin J. Zipperer, 39, appeared before Manitowoc County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Lambrecht for an initial appearance June 9. Zipperer was represented by attorney Shane Laughton Brabazon and Assistant District Attorney Marconi de Franca Barros represented the state. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 3 p.m. July 24.
Zipperer was arrested June 3 after an investigation that began April 28. He appeared in Manitowoc County Circuit Court June 4 and was given a $5,000 cash bond, which he posted. As a part of his bond, he is to have no contact with anyone younger than 18 and is not to possess any internet-enabled devices.
Manitowoc Police Department identified Zipperer as a school bus driver who provided transportation for students in the Valders Area School District.
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A probable cause statement from police said a detective received a cyber tip from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children referencing a Dropbox account and apparent child sexual abuse materials.
The Dropbox account was traced to Zipperer, and the probable cause statement said a file in the cyber tip report 'depicted pubescent minors engaged in a sex act.'
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators reviewed the Dropbox records and found media files that included nude photos of Zipperer and 21 videos depicting child sexual abuse material, the probable cause statement said.
June 3, officers and detectives executed a search warrant at Zipperer's home, where they took possession of his phone and other electronic devices. The probable cause statement said a forensic review of those devices 'still needs to be completed.'
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Zipperer, according to the probable cause statement, 'admitted to possessing and viewing' child sexual abuse material 'but denied sharing CSAM online and denied possessing additional CSAM in any of his electronic devices.'
Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can contact Detective Jason Denk at 920-686-6557, the Manitowoc Police Department Shift Commander's Office at 920-686-6551, or can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 920-683-4466 or by utilizing the P3 app. People should reference case No. 2025-00004422.
Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Valders school bus driver charged with child porn has preliminary hearing set
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