Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Former fire captain sentenced for child sex crime

Click to enlarge photo

Martin Vohwinkel

A former Clark County Fire Department captain has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to using Craigslist.com – a facility of interstate commerce – to coerce and entice a minor for sex.

In February, Martin Vohwinkel, 56, of Las Vegas, allegedly posted an advertisement on Craigslist.com saying he was looking for a young girl with whom to have sex. In the post, police said, he wrote “the younger the better.”

Vohwinkel was caught after a Henderson police detective responded to the listing, claiming to be a 14-year-old girl. Police say Vohwinkel responded, and confirmed he had posted the ad. He then asked if the officer “girl” wanted to have sex, and what it would cost.

Vohwinkel, who told the girl he was 45 years old, then also e-mailed a nude photo of himself, police said, and told her he needed to have sex as soon as possible.

When Vohwinkel asked for a photo of who he thought was a young girl, police detectives sent a picture of a female police officer. Vohwinkel requested nude photos, police said.

During the correspondence, police said Vohwinkel identified himself as a firefighter named “Marty,” and gave out his phone number. He was arrested March 1 in the parking lot of a Henderson grocery store, where he had planned to meet the girl.

During the investigation, Vohwinkel was placed on unpaid leave. Vohwinkel made $230,166.90 in 2008.

According to a release from the Department of Justice, Vohwinkel is require to report himself to federal prison by noon, Feb. 18.

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