Police Continue Mislich Investigation

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Published on October 20 2014 11:49 am
Last Updated on October 20 2014 2:14 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Information continues to become available regarding Altamont native Stephen Mislich and his alleged actions to obtain compromising photos and videos of young women. The enterprise has involved dozens of young women as well as men.

The 23-year-old Mislich has been charged by the US Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois with four counts of computer-related harassment and extortion. The investigation, which has been underway for several months, led to a warrant for Mislich's arrest and the charges in Illinois. Effingham city and county law enforcement officers have assisted in the investigation.

Information as of the date of the indictment filed on October 7 indicated that Mislich contacted 267 males or females using a hijacked Facebook profile of one of the alleged victims. Many of those involved are or were from the Altamont area where Mislich grew up. Mislich allegedly threatened the women with posting photos of them either nude or in compromising photos on Facebook or on the accounts of the women's family and friends. Authorities allege Mislich hacked into accounts to obtain some photos and then used those as bargaining chips in an effort to gain additional photos in exchange for not posting the original photos. He alleged contacted the young men in hopes of obtaining additional photos in exchange for the photos he already had. 106 males either sent pictures to or traded pictures with Mislich. 74 males or females did not reply to Mislich.

The case originated when a young woman contacted Effingham city police that her Facebook account had been hacked and compromising photos of her had been obtained. Police then obtained permission to utilize one of the alleged victim's account to interact with Mislich. The charges included in the federal indictment allege wrongdoing by Mislich dating back to last December.