Corpus Christi Man Heads to Federal Prison After Kidnapping Child

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for kidnapping a six-year-old girl from her Corpus Christi home and planning to take her to Arizona, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Austin Carlin, of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty June 9, 2016.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Carlin a 262-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release. The court took into consideration a victim letter read in court by the mother of the girl Carlin kidnapped, in which she described the impact the crime has had on the child. Carlin will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Carlin abducted the young child from her residence in the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 2015. Carlin stole a vehicle and drove out of Corpus Christi with the child. The Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) immediately disseminated an Amber Alert in pursuit of Carlin and the child. As part of the alert, a Child Abduction Response Team was deployed with the assistance of FBI.

State troopers pulled Carlin over as he drove on Interstate 10 approximately 350 miles west of San Antonio. He was arrested and authorities were able to successfully recover the child and return her to her family. Carlin admitted that his destination was Arizona.

Carlin has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges are the result of the investigative efforts of the FBI, CCPD and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez and Brittany Jensen are prosecuting the case.