A 27-year-old man, who pretended to be a Nebraska high school student to exploit teenage girls, has been sentenced to between 85 to 120 years in prison, according to various reports.

Zachary Scheich, who went by the name “Zak Hess” and claimed to be 17, deceived his peers for over 50 days to exploit and sexually assault more than a dozen girls, some as young as 13, reported the Washington Post and KOLN.

Scheich managed to blend in using his height of 5 feet 4 inches and weight of 120 pounds, as per the Lincoln police. He attended several schools within the Lincoln Public Schools District.

Despite passing himself off as a student, he had actually graduated from the same district back in 2015, according to assistant chief Brian Jackson from the Lincoln Police Department during a news conference in July 2023.

YSL News reached out to officials in Lancaster County on Monday but didn’t get a reply. It remains unclear who is representing Scheich legally.

Judge criticizes Zachary Scheich during sentencing

On September 11, Lancaster District Judge Darla S. Ideus sentenced Scheich on charges including sexual assault, child enticement through electronic communication, and the creation of sexually explicit images of minors, as reported by the Washington Post. During the hearing, Scheich did not speak but sent a letter to the judge, which was not read aloud in court.

This substantial sentence follows Scheich’s no contest plea in July, where he reduced his felony charges from 15 to five as part of a plea deal.

“The children you took advantage of were unable to defend themselves because they believed you were one of them,” said Judge Ideus during the short hearing, according to the Post.

How Zachary Scheich was caught

The investigation into Scheich began on June 1 when the Lincoln police were alerted by the school district about someone impersonating a student named Zak Hess during the 2022-23 school year.

Hess, who was actually Scheich, enrolled at Northwest High School for the first semester and then transferred to Southeast High School for the second semester. Authorities would later discover that Hess was actually a 26-year-old man who graduated from Lincoln Public Schools in 2015.

Records from the schools showed that Scheich attended classes under the Hess name for 54 days, according to police.

‘I am supposed to feel safe in school’

During the hearing, Judge Ideus shared an impact statement from one of Scheich’s victims.

“I should feel safe at school, but now I don’t feel secure in a place I once did,” Ideus quoted from the girl’s letter. “I’ve become so guarded that I shut down to anyone trying to connect with me. I struggle to believe what people say. My trust is shattered; even when I want to believe, I just can’t.”

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Amber Schlote described the wounds inflicted on Scheich’s victims as immeasurable, noting they experienced difficulties in school, falling grades, and feelings of anxiety, shame, and deep distrust of adults.

“This has undeniably changed the course of their lives,” Schlote stated, as reported by the Post.

In relation to this case, a 23-year-old woman named Angela Navarro faces charges for criminal impersonation. Navarro pleaded not guilty and claims she was manipulated by Scheich, according to KOLN. She was arrested on September 29, 2023.

Navarro, who was reportedly 22 at the time, posed as Scheich’s mother under the alias “Danielle Hess” to attend meetings with school counselors, as cited in an arrest affidavit. She is currently free on bond and awaits trial.

Lincoln Public Schools’ response to Zachary Scheich

Lincoln Public Schools sent notifications to families at both Northwest and Southeast High Schools, as stated by the police. According to documents shared by YSL News from the school district, the alert detailed the events.

• October 20, 2022: He began his attendance at Northwest High School.
• January 12, 2023: He transferred to Southeast High School.
• May 31: The district learned of a report about an adult male impersonating a junior at one of their high schools. The student services and security department notified the police.
• July: Authorities confirmed that Zachary Scheich enrolled and attended two high schools during the 2022-23 school year as Zak Hess.
• He was arrested in July 2023.

Paul Gausman, the superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, along with Matt Larson, the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services, addressed the community in July 2023. They informed that the district had circulated Hess’s photograph to schools and indicated that he was banned from school grounds while police worked to verify his identity.

The district also explained its compliance with state and federal guidelines for student enrollment, which can occur online or in person. Whether applying online or in person, the district requires a birth certificate, vaccination records, physical exams, and transcripts, according to school officials.

A man took advantage of the enrollment system by submitting fraudulent documents. In response, the enrollment procedures will be re-evaluated.

To enhance security, new measures have been introduced, including several face-to-face discussions with the parents and guardians of students looking to enroll. District officials have also stated that they will continue to support families that may not be able to attend multiple meetings due to their schedules.