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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts in Houston, Texas
March 21, 2007
MAN CHARGED FEDERALLY IN HOUSTON FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A CHILD
"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."
(HOUSTON) Ronnie Lee Harp, 47, of Douglas, TX near Lufkin, charged with attempting to entice a child over the internet has been ordered held without bond pending further criminal proceedings, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.
Arrested on March 13, 2007, Harp has been in custody since his arrest and has now been ordered to remain in custody without bond pending action by a grand jury.
During Tuesday’s hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy, the court heard testimony based upon allegations in the criminal complaint that Harp was arrested at Baybrook Mall after he had arrived to meet a 13 year old girl for sex. What Harp did not know was that the 13 year old girl he had been chatting with over the internet between February 21, 2007 and the date of his arrest was in actuality an undercover agent.
The criminal complaint filed against Harp following his arrest on March 13, 2007, alleges that the meeting at the mall had been set up through a series of online chats over the internet between someone using the screen name “Lkn4ygrl” and an undercover agent posing as a 13 year old girl. During the sexually explicit chats, “Lkn4yngrl” identified himself as a 47-year-old-male named Ronnie living in Lufkin, Texas, who liked young girls and sex. Through instant messaging, “Lkn4yngrl” discussed plans to meet the 13 year old at about 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2007, at the food court of the Baybrook Mall. “Lkn4ngrl” provided details regarding the car he would be driving and what he would be wearing and carrying, including his laptop, a camera and $80 in cash, and plans to take the 13 year old girl to a hotel for sex.
In anticipation of the planned meeting between “Lkn4yngrl” and teenager, investigating agents set up physical surveillance at Baybrook Mall. According to the allegations in the complaint, at approximately 10:00 a.m. agents observed a man, later identified as Ronnie Lee Harp, who fit the description of “Lkn4yngrl”, driving the vehicle, wearing the clothes previously described. Harp was arrested 25 minutes later as he sat at a table in the food court. Following the arrest, agents recovered $80 from Harp and a laptop and camera from the car he had been seen driving upon arrival at the mall.
The investigation leading to the criminal charges against Harp was conducted by the F.B.I.’s Houston Area Cyber Crimes Task force, which includes the Harris County Sherif’s Office and the Houston Police Department.
The attempted enticement of a minor charge carries a statutory minimum sentence of ten (10) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, upon conviction, to be followed by up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Richard Magness.
A complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
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