Nebraska man who posed as high schooler and committed sex crimes is described as 'predator of the worst kind'

A Nebraska man who committed sex crimes while posing as a student at two Lincoln high schools has now been sentenced to 85 to 120 years in prison as a prosecutor labeled him a “predator of the worst kind.” 

Zachary Scheich, a 27-year-old who posed as a 17-year-old student named Zak Hess, won’t be eligible for parole for more than 40 years and is also required to register as a sex offender as part of his punishment, according to KOLN. He was arrested in July 2023 after attending around 54 days of classes at Northwest High School and Southeast High School, officials said at the time. 

Scheich pleaded no contest to multiple counts of sexual assault and other charges, with Deputy County Attorney Amber Scholte saying this week at a sentencing hearing that his behavior made him a “predator of the worst kind, the kind that preys on children.” 

“He targeted, groomed and lured them via social media,” Scholte said. “He did so under the guise of being their peer, their friend, and in some…