SVU human trafficking suspect faces additional charges, Troopers seeking to identify victims

Published 9:10 am Saturday, February 27, 2021

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St. Tammany Parish– On February 25, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit rebooked 28-year-old Joseph William Haidler of Mandeville into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on three additional counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor.  Haidler was originally arrested in the United States Virgin Islands and extradited back to St. Tammany Parish in July of 2020 on charges of trafficking of a child for sexual purposes, rape, and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

Troopers learned that after his initial arrest, Haidler continued using a popular social media application “Snapchat” to solicit girls between the ages of 13-15 for sexually explicit content.  Search warrants were obtained for several of the alleged accounts, which revealed the names of over one thousand potential victims to whom he reached out to through Snapchat.  In each of the accounts, Haidler sent photographs of an open computer screen depicting a bank balance of tens of thousands of dollars, and would ask the girls if they wanted a “sugar daddy”.  He would also send two particular photographs of himself.

Haidler appears to be targeting high school aged girls in St. Tammany Parish.  Haidler was out on bond when it was learned he solicited additional victims who have since been identified. Attached are two photographs allegedly sent by Haidler from various alias accounts.  If anyone has information regarding this case, please contact the Louisiana State Police Special Victim’s Unit- New Orleans office: 504-310-7000.

**Initial Release**

 

SVU Rape Suspect Arrested in US Virgin Islands Extradited to St. Tammany Parish

 

St. Tammany Parish- On Monday July 6, 2020, Troopers from the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit in New Orleans with assistance from the US Marshals Service and local law enforcement in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, extradited 27-year-old Joseph William Haidler from the St. Thomas Bureau of Corrections USVI to Covington. Haidler was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail for multiple felony charges related to the rape and sexual assault of a minor, which occurred in St. Tammany Parish.

Troopers began an extensive investigation in May 2020, which determined that Haidler traveled to St. Tammany Parish in December, 2019.   On at least two separate occasions, Haidler, using an alias, solicited a minor victim for sexual acts, photographs, and videos through a popular social media application. Haidler then picked the victim up from her home and transported her to a location nearby, where he raped her.

Troopers obtained an arrest warrant in St. Tammany Parish, and the US Marshals Service arrested Haidler in St. John, US Virgin Islands in early June. Haidler was extradited back to St. Tammany Parish where he was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail with two counts each of trafficking of a child for sexual purposes, third degree rape, aggravated kidnapping, and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

The LSP Special Victims Unit works tirelessly to rescue and seek justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans for sex or labor. In this case, Troopers partnered with the Children’s Advocacy Center-Hope House.  The Hope House is a child-centered environment where families in St. Tammany and Washington Parish can get the help they need after abuse has been reported. They provide a path to recovery and a bridge to justice for victims of abuse. For more information, please visit https://www.cachopehouse.org/.

If anyone has additional information on this case or has been the victim of sex or labor trafficking in the Greater New Orleans area, please contact the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit at 504-310-7012.