Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Two men have been charged in connection to allegations that they conspired to commit child sex crimes.
Nelson Heckenkamp, 27, of Pewaukee, is accused of exchanging explicit information about and contact information for several teenage girls with Jakob Wilhite, an inmate at the Racine Correctional Institute.
Heckenkamp was convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child and child enticement in Racine County in April 2025. He was sentenced to three years of probation and credit for time served, according to a criminal complaint.
He is now charged with conspiracy to commit use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime as a repeater; conspiracy to commit child enticement as a repeater; and failure to register as a sex offender.
If convicted, Heckenkamp faces up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both; up to 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both; and up to six years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each respective charge. All three are felonies.
Additionally, he faces a bifurcated sentence of three-and-a-half years for the first two charges because of his status as a repeat violator.
Wilhite, 25, is charged with use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime as a repeater and child enticement as a repeater.
If convicted, he faces 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 or both; and up to 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 or both, respectively.
According to online Racine County court records, Wilhite was previously convicted of possession of child pornography and child sexual exploitation in 2021, as well as failure to update his information as a sex offender in 2025. He is currently serving his sentences at the Racine Correctional Institute.
According to a criminal complaint, Heckenkamp first contacted Wilhite in September 2025.
Wilhite is alleged to have provided Heckenkamp with information about several girls between the ages of 16-17, one of whom Heckenkamp allegedly exchanged explicit photographs with and later met in person.
A cash bond of $25,000 was set for Heckenkamp in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday.
He is scheduled to appear for preliminary hearing on Feb. 26, according to online court records.
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