LIBERTY, NY — The Village of Liberty Police Department has made two additional arrests as part of its ongoing undercover investigations targeting individuals who use the internet and social media to attempt to sexually exploit children.

The arrests follow an August press conference held jointly by the Village of Liberty Police Department and Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office announcing the results of two separate enforcement initiatives, including Operation Dangerous DMs, an undercover operation targeting individuals who use online platforms to engage in sexually explicit communications with persons they believe to be children. The operation had previously resulted in six arrests.

On August 19, 2026, the Village of Liberty Police Department arrested Matthew Wunner, 31, of Kiamesha Lake, following an undercover investigation. During the investigation, a Liberty Police Officer, acting in an undercover capacity and posing online as a 13-year-old child, communicated with Wunner. Wunner, believing that he was communicating with a 13-year-old child, requested that the child send him sexually explicit photographs. 

Wunner was located at his residence in Kiamesha Lake and taken into custody without incident. He was charged with Attempted Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a felony, in violation of New York State Penal Law. In accordance with New York State law, Wunner was issued an appearance ticket directing him to appear in the Town of Liberty Court at a future date.

On September 8, 2026, the Village of Liberty Police Department arrested Seth Tremper, 21, of Swan Lake, following a separate undercover investigation. During that investigation, a Liberty Police Officer, again acting in an undercover capacity and posing online as a 13-year-old child, communicated with Tremper.

During those communications, Tremper, believing that he was communicating with a 13-year-old child, engaged in sexually explicit communications describing simulated nudity and attempted to invite the child to engage in sexual conduct. Tremper also requested that the individual he believed to be a child send him nude sexually explicit photographs.

Officers located Tremper at his place of employment in Livingston Manor, where he was employed as a school bus aide. Tremper was located on a school bus and taken into custody without incident.

Tremper was charged with Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree, a felony, in violation of New York State Penal Law, and Attempted Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, a felony, in violation of New York State Penal Law. In accordance with New York State Bail Reform laws he was released on an appearance ticket and directed to appear at the Town of liberty Court at a later date.

The Village of Liberty Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer division. 

Chief of Police Steven D’Agata stated, “When we announced Operation Dangerous DMs in August, we made it clear that the arrests being announced that day did not mark the end of these investigations. Our officers continue to work proactively in an undercover capacity to identify individuals who are willing to use the internet to sexually exploit children. These investigations are particularly disturbing because in each case the defendant allegedly believed that he was communicating with an actual 13-year-old child. The fact that the person on the other side of the conversation was actually a police officer does not diminish the intent demonstrated through these communications. Our goal is to identify these individuals before an actual child becomes their victim. In this case it was additionally concerning that one of the defendants was employed in a position of trust with children on a school bus. 

"These cases in particular also highlight a glaring problem with New York State Bail Reform legislation.  Under current New York State Law both individuals were required to be immediately released from police custody and issued an appearance ticket for a future court date. This defies common sense and endangers public safety. 

"The Village of Liberty Police Department will continue to dedicate personnel and investigative resources to these proactive operations, and we will continue working closely with the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to protect children from those who seek to exploit them.”

Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law, and as such they are not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a presumption of innocence and are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the burden of the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.