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Press Release

Kentucky man sentenced to 30 years in prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct with 13-year-old

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

A Kentucky man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for 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, 34, of Vanceburg, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty to 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.

“Bivens’ actions were predatory and this sentenced is well deserved,” Dettelbach said.

"Bivens is a predator and his actions in this case were horrific,” Anthony said. “We are thankful that through coordinated efforts with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky law enforcement,  we were able to bring his victim home safely. "

From 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, according to court documents.

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. During the same period, he also 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 court documents.

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.

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.

Updated April 3, 2015

Topic
Project Safe Childhood