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Press Release

Kentucky Man Indicted On Multiple Counts Related To Sexual Exploitation Of A Child

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

A Kentucky man was indicted on multiple counts for activity related to taking a 13-year-old across state lines to engage in illicit sexual activity, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Cleveland office.

Shawn J. Bivens, 33, of Vanceburg, Kentucky, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child, transporting visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

The indictment charges that from on or about January 21, 2014, through on or about February 28, 2014, and again from on or about February 28, 2014, through on or about March 2, 2014, Bivens, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor -- that is, a 13 year-old girl -- to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported, using any means or facility of interstate and foreign commerce, and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. 

The indictment also charges that from on or about February 28, 2014, through on or about March 2, 2014, Bivens knowingly traveled in interstate commerce, from Kentucky to Ohio, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl. 

From on or about February 28, 2014, through on or about March 2, 2014, Bivens knowingly transported, using any means of interstate and foreign commerce and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of a real minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to the indictment. 

From on or about May 3, 2014, through on or about May 8, 2014, Bivens knowingly transported an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, that is a 13-year-old girl, in interstate commerce from the Ohio to Kentucky, with the intent that such 13-year-old girl engage in sexual activity for which Bivens could be charged with a criminal offense.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.  The case was investigated by the Elyria Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lewis County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s Department.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Updated March 12, 2015