Summersville Man Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Entice Minors

CHARLESTON, WV—Aaron Cain Adkins, 35, of Summersville, WV, pled guilty today before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., admitting he used the internet in an attempt to entice and persuade a minor to engage in sexual intercourse with him.

The conviction stems from a joint federal and state investigation. The investigation revealed that in May 2007, Adkins created a MySpace account purporting to be a 16-year-old female. He then began contacting two 13-year-old girls via the internet through the minor’s MySpace account. Using the false identity, Adkins told the minors “she” had a friend who would pay $300 to have sex with the girls. Adkins asked when the minors would be willing to meet and suggested meeting near Kanawha Falls. Adkins told the girls he would be driving a little silver car. Subsequently, on May 25, 2007, Adkins arrived at the predetermined location as planned. Fortunately, the minors did not.

When the minors did not show up for the meeting, Adkins contacted them, again using the false persona via MySpace. Adkins again asked if the minors wanted to meet and described himself as being 25 years old, although he was actually 33 years old at the time. During their online conversations, the minors informed Adkins that they were only 13 years old. Adkins talked about having sex with the minors and asked them if they had ever had sex. Adkins asked the girls to meet him a second time near Kanawha Falls. He again said he would be driving a little silver car to their meeting. On May 27, 2007, Adkins arrived at the designated time and place in his little silver car.

This time, Adkins was arrested at the predetermined location by members of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department who had been contacted by one of the minor’s parents following the first scheduled meeting. At the time of his arrest, deputies found a digital camera, a digital video camcorder, a computer and $300 cash in Adkins’ car.

Adkins, who is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2009, faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ in prison and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release. Assistant United States Attorney Karen B. Schommer is handling the prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department jointly conducted the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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 cases and related activities please visit www.usdoj.gov/usao/wvs and www.projectsafechildhood.gov.