NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF KANSAS

JOHN F. WOOD

FEBRUARY 12, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KANSAS CITY MAN WILL STAND TRIAL ON CHARGES OF SEX ACTS WITH TEENAGE GIRL

KANSAS CITY, KAN - A federal judge Tuesday rejected a plea agreement and set Jesse Herd, 36, Kansas City, Kan., for a trial June 3 on a charge of transporting a teenaged girl across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual acts.

In November, Herd pleaded guilty to one count of transporting a minor across state lines. In turn, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of 18 years.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil rejected the plea agreement and set the case for trial June 3.

In an indictment filed June 20, 2007, Herd was charged with transporting a minor identified as AA across state lines to engage in prostitution or other criminal sexual activities. If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life, and a fine up to $250,000.

The Kansas City Kansas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith worked on the case.

• As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal
  conduct.
  

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html