Wrightstown man known as ‘Cheese Guy’ accused of asking underage girls to send him naked pictures, has cash bond set at $50k
(WFRV) – A man from Wrightstown had his cash bond set at $50,000 after he was arrested and charged for allegedly impersonating people to ask underage girls for naked pictures.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Local 5, 45-year-old Craig Pagel is facing multiple charges tied to alleged incidents where he would ask underage girls for inappropriate photos. Back in November of 2023, authorities with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office were sent to a harassment call.
It was reported that an underage girl was receiving harassing text messages as well as photoshopped pictures of her face on the bodies of nude women. The victim reportedly said this started happening sometime in July or August.
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The messages came from a different number each time and appeared to be spoofed according to the complaint. Spoofing is normally used to try to conceal a sender’s true identity.
The complaint says that the messages were wanting the victim to send a topless picture back to them. It is also mentioned other people the victim’s family knew were getting messaged.
Authorities ended up contacting Pagel over the phone about the incident. He reportedly said that he got messages from unknown numbers regarding the victim. Pagel reportedly said that he deleted the messages once he got them.
The complaint says that Pagel only knew the victim because he is on the same sports team the victim’s father plays on in a recreational league.
Fast forward to April 3, 2024, and authorities believed that Pagle was responsible for multiple crimes. Pagle was stopped by authorities and ended up speaking with investigators.
Pagel reportedly denied any wrongdoing but ended up admitting his activities toward the victim, as well as additional victims.
In a written statement, Pagel admitted to ‘everything’. He said that the victim was the daughter of one of his friends and described her as a ‘young attractive woman’.
Pagel said that he started to message the victim and ask for naked pictures while pretending to be someone he was not in the early summer of 2023. He also reportedly used an AI website to create a fake nude photo of the victim and sent it to her. Pagel said that he told the victim if she didn’t get naked that he was going to send the picture to the ‘cheese guy’.
He ended up saying that he is the ‘cheese guy’ and it is his nickname.
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The complaint mentions that when the deputy called him back in November, Pagel got scared and deleted everything that he had.
In the written statement, Pagel talked about a second victim and how he did the same thing. Pagel also reportedly knew the second victim’s parents.
Pagel said that he started fake texting in the past three to four years and would harass people that he knew and ask them for nudes. He also mentions that he once pretended to be a Green Bay Packers player and would ask a woman for naked pictures.
The complaint says that Pagel said he created an estimated 12 Facebook accounts to solicit naked pictures from adult and underage girls.
Pagel said that he was wrong for pretending to be someone he is not and his goal was to make friends and talk to people. He also reportedly said he knew it was wrong but did it out of curiosity and boredom. He ended up writing an apology letter to the first victim, according to the complaint.
Pagel is charged with:
Stalking – Victim Under Age 18
Felony
Up to six years in prison
Solicit Intimate Representation From Minor
Felony
Up to three and a half years in prison
Stalking
Felony
Up to three and a half years in prison
Court records show that Pagel was in court on April 5 for his initial appearance. He had his case bond set at $50,000. He is due back in court on April 26 for an adjourned initial appearance.
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No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story as the case progresses through court.
