Federal Grand Jury Issues New Indictment in Kidnapping Case Involving 12-Year-Old Girl
Thomas Steven Sanders Charged with Two Counts Related to the Death of Lexis Roberts

ALEXANDRIA, LA—A federal grand jury has returned a new indictment charging Thomas Steven Sanders, 53, of Las Vegas, Nevada, with interstate kidnapping resulting in the death of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts and use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence that resulted in her murder, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today. Sanders will be arraigned on the new indictment in United States District Court in Alexandria, Louisiana before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Kirk. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.

The indictment alleges that between September 5 and October 8, 2010, Sanders kidnapped Roberts in Arizona and transported her to Louisiana, where he used a firearm to murder her. Both counts of the indictment are punishable by either life in prison or death. The government has not yet made a decision as to whether it will seek the death penalty in this case.

In addition to the pending federal charges, there is a state detainer lodged against Sanders based on a warrant for first degree murder under Louisiana law, according to Catahoula Parish District Attorney Bradley R. Burget.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Central Louisiana Safe Streets Task Force, the Las Vegas, NV Metropolitan Police Department, the Yavapai County, AZ, Sheriff’s Office, and the Coconino County, AZ, Sheriff’s Office. The federal indictment is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William J. Flanagan and Nicole O. Snyder.