42-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO PLANNED SEX WITH 13-YEAR OLD SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

WICHITA, KAN. – Brian J. Butters, 42, of Pampa, Texas, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for using the Internet to set up a sexual encounter with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

“This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “Our goal is to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.”

In March, a jury convicted Butters after a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Wesley E. Brown.

Evidence was presented at trial to show that in August 2006 Butters was a member of the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Riley, Kan., when he began using the Internet and Yahoo Instant Messenger to communicate with an employee working undercover for the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office. They exchanged messages in a chart room called “Kansas13.” The undercover agent identified herself as a 13-year-old female named Michelle Johnson. Butters said that if “Michelle” would satisfy him he would treat her like a queen. He went on to explain that by “satisfy” he meant she would have sex with him whenever he wanted. He advised her not to let her mother know about their conversations.

On Sept. 8, 2006, Butters sent “Michelle” a message saying that he was going to wash his car, gas it up and drive from Junction City, Kan., to Wichita. He said his plan was to get a motel room in Goddard, Kan., where they could have sex. He asked her to purchase condoms and said he would pay her back. He said when he arrived he would park at the west Kellogg Wal Mart near the lawn and garden entrance.

Butters sent “Michelle” a text message at about 2 p.m. Sept. 8, 2006, to tell her that he had arrived at the Wal Mart. She replied in a message saying she did not feel comfortable buying condoms. He said he would do it. FBI agents observed while he entered the Wal Mart store and purchased the condoms from the pharmacy section. They arrested him when he returned to his car.

Project Safe Childhood was created in February 2006 by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood directs federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, see www.projectsafechildhood.gov/

Melgren commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger, who prosecuted.

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