Police: Woman thought man was an NFL player

10/1/2004

After agreeing to his online requests that she sexually abuse a 4-year-old girl and send him pictures via the Internet, a Sylvania woman asked the man she thought was an NFL football player for a favor in return.

"Do u think u can have me come for a game with a friend and get me tickets?" 26-year-old Elissa Schuster asked, said Sylvania police, who released a transcript of an instant messaging conversation yesterday.

"[And] i want a jersey of yours."

Ms. Schuster of 6504 Cornwall Ct. has been charged with rape, pandering sexually oriented material, and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance. She was released yesterday on $250,000 bond after her attorneys waived a preliminary examination in Sylvania Municipal Court.

Sylvania police Detective Mike Yunker said yesterday that John Fleming, 36, of Tampa was arrested Wednesday by Hillsborough County, Fla., detectives and charged with possession of child pornography for images on his computer of the 4-year-old victim Ms. Schuster is accused of sexually abusing.

The detective also released contents of an alleged instant- message dialogue between the two defendants that he said was retrieved from Ms. Schuster's computer. The date of the Internet conversation, which occurred between 12:39 and 12:55 a.m., has not been determined yet by police. However, the detective said it occurred before Sept. 13, when Ms. Schuster's computer and other items were seized from her residence as a result of a police search warrant.

Detective Yunker said images of the victim were allegedly sent to Mr. Fleming because Ms. Schuster expected "some monetary value," and to further her online relationship with the man. "She was under the impression he was a member of an NFL football team," he said.

Detective Yunker said Mr. Fleming is not an NFL player and has no connection to any player or NFL teams. He declined to say whose identity the Florida man had assumed.

In the transcript, the detective said Mr. Fleming - identified by the e-mail address "Buckin4God2" - told Ms. Schuster she would get to meet him, that he had bought her a ring, and he would marry her.

The statements were made as Mr. Fleming gave Ms. Schuster - who had the e-mail address of "Lustylis429" - instructions on nude poses for the child, the transcript indicates.

Though she expressed concern that people would "think I am into kiddie porn," the transcript indicates she sent the images when he indicated he was getting angry with her.

Florida police are analyzing Mr. Fleming's computer, and local experts are continuing to analyze Ms. Schuster's computer. The detective said more charges may be filed.

He said it is also possible the images "may have been shipped out to those connected with child pornography."

Because there is evidence of the interstate transmission of the pictures, Detective Yunker said the FBI will be informed of the status of the case.

He said the case began when Sylvania police were investigating a report of a burglary at Ms. Schuster's apartment. During the burglary investigation, police were approached by her husband, from whom she is separated.

Detective Yunker said the estranged husband told police he had found the electronic dialogue on Ms. Schuster's computer. With that, police obtained a search warrant for her apartment.

At Ms. Schuster's hearing, Judge M. Scott Ramey accepted her waiver and referred the case to the Lucas County grand jury.

Prosecutors said the case will be presented to the grand jury Wednesday.

Contact Mike Jones at:

419-724-6096 or

mjones@theblade.com.