July 23, 2014

Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

EUGENE, OR—On Wednesday, July 23, 2014, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken sentenced Steven Anthony Kidd, 21, of Linn County, Oregon, to a prison term of 12 years for two counts of child sex trafficking. Following his release from prison, Kidd will be on supervised release for five years.

In December 2012, a Eugene Police Department (EPD) officer learned that Kidd might be trafficking minors for sex, and further investigation confirmed this. EPD and the FBI learned that Kidd had trafficked a minor female, referred to as “AA,” starting in late 2011 and lasting for nearly a year. Kidd transported AA to Medford, Albany, Eugene, Corvallis, Harrisburg and Portland, Oregon, as well as cities in Washington. He obtained hotel rooms, posted ads soliciting sex and collected proceeds from the sex trafficking. Kidd imposed a set of rules for AA to follow and subjected her to physical abuse.

On two occasions in December of 2012, Kidd also trafficked another minor female, referred to as “BB.” Kidd posted an advertisement soliciting customers to engage in sex with BB, and drove her to Corvallis for the sex acts. Kidd kept the proceeds from these acts of sex trafficking.

The residence Kidd was staying at in Albany, Oregon was searched, and Kidd was arrested the same day. Two pistols were located, along with significant information demonstrating Kidd’s involvement in child sex trafficking, including a notebook in his closet. The notebook had handwritten notes, including some titled “Hoe Bi**h Rules”, which included “Bi**h Always look at the ground.” Other handwritten notes included, “First and Foremost, Break the Bi**h’s old Phone,” (sic), “Don’t let the B**h think for herself,” and, “Make them fear DADDY.” Other evidence located at the residence further confirmed Kidd’s trafficking of the minor victims.

“This case is a prime example of how pimps use violence, power, and control to manipulate vulnerable victims into a life of terror”, said U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall. “My office will continue working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to make it clear to traffickers that our children are not for sale.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Eugene Police Department, with assistance from the Albany Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet.