Waverly teacher charged in ‘child predator operation’

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A teacher from Waverly Community Schools was charged in Eaton County District Court Monday with three felonies stemming from a months-long ‘child predator operation.’

Robert Herzing, 32, was arraigned Monday with one count each of accosting a minor for immoral purposes, attempted criminal sexual conduct third degree and using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime.

6 News obtained a 5-page Affidavit of Probable Cause from the court records Wednesday morning. The document lays out the basis for the criminal charges.

In the document, Eaton County Detective Stephanie Scheib discloses a months long exchange between Herzing and herself, acting as a 15-year-old boy. Scheib created a decoy account on the Grinder app, which Schieb describes as “as app used for homosexual males to meet and hookup.”

Scheib stated she began communicating with Herzing Jan. 22, 2024 and communicated on the app “over the course of several months.” On May 1, Herzing disclosed to the decoy persona, “Ryan” that he was a teacher. Scheib, acting as “Ryan” inquired what he taught, and Herzing, she reports, said he taught journalism for part of the day and then as a reading specialist for another part of the day.

On May 2, Scheib, acting as decoy persona “Ryan,” provided Herzing with a text number. When Herzing requested a photo, she sent him “a photograph of a male which I had altered to look like a 15-year-old boy,” Scheib wrote in the affidavit.

Once Herzing texted Scheib on the phone text number, she disclosed “Ryan” was 15, not the legal adult required to register with and use the Grindr app. Herzing allegedly agreed to continue talking to “Ryan.”

While this communication was occurring by text, a crime analyst identified the telephone number from which Herzing was texting as belonging to Herzing. The analyst also determined he was a teacher at Waverly High School.

Scheib, acting as “Ryan” continued to communicate with Herzing over the course of months. This included sending him digitally altered photos on at least one other occasion.

At one point, June 29, Scheib reports she arranged for Herzing and “Ryan” to meet at Qdoba in Frandor. While she cancelled, she reports he showed up.

The two continued to communicate via text “sporadically” Scheib reports in her affidavit until Sept. 12. At that point, Herzing allegedly agreed to meet “Ryan” at a location by his home and then go back to the home “Ryan” shared with his mother.

Herzing agreed to meet at the Delta Township Library and arrived at about 10:15 p.m. Sept. 12. He was placed under arrest.

Subsequent to the arrest, his vehicle was searched revealing a “pink bag” that contained “condoms, multiple lubes, rubber rings… and other miscellaneous items.” The rubber rings were described by Herzing as a tool for sexual enhancement. Law enforcement also found two Waverly High School identifications with Herzing’s name on the backseat. In the trunk of the car, a pair of “fur covered handcuffs,” additional lube and a large knife were recovered.

Herzing is due in court again Sept. 30 for a probable cause conference and an Oct. 7 preliminary hearing.

An ongoing 6 News Investigation reveals Herzing is the 46th person charged in ongoing operations being conducted by a multi-agency task force involving Eaton County Sheriff’s Department, Lansing Police Department and the Michigan State Police. The task force has been operating since at least November of 2022.

This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of the suspect’s name Herzing. The Affidavit of Probable Cause spelled his name differently than official court filings.

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