A 27-year-old Nebraska man who posed as a high school student for nearly two months to prey on teenagers has been sentenced to life in prison. Zachary Scheich, a 5’4″ and 120-pound man, assumed the identity of “Zak Hess” and attended classes at two public schools, Southeast High School and Lincoln Southeast High School, for 54 days in 2023.
Scheich, a 2015 graduate of Southeast High School, was arrested in July 2023 after authorities discovered his ruse and his involvement in illicit relationships with minor students. Investigators found that he had requested explicit material and sex from a 13-year-old girl and sent lewd messages to two other students, aged 13 and 14.
Deputy County Attorney Amber Scholte described Scheich as a “predator of the worst kind” who used social media to “target, groom and lure” his victims under the guise of being their peer and friend. Scheich fabricated documents and created an elaborate backstory to maintain his false identity.
An associate, 23-year-old Angela Navarro, was also arrested in September 2023 on suspicion of helping Scheich enroll in school by posing as his mother, “Danielle Hess.” Navarro insisted on the false identities when questioned by police.
Scheich was sentenced to 85 to 120 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after 41 years, on charges of child enticement, first-degree sexual assault, and attempted felony. He had initially faced nine felony counts but accepted a plea deal in July to reduce the charges.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Darla Ideus noted that Scheich’s victims had been aware of the dangers of interacting with adult males on social media, but they had not been prepared to defend themselves against someone they believed was their peer. Scheich’s actions, the judge said, had exploited this trust.
Navarro, Scheich’s alleged accomplice, has pleaded not guilty to felony criminal impersonation and was released on $450 bail in April. The Lincoln Public Schools district has announced that it is reviewing its enrollment procedures in light of the incident, which has cost the district financially.
