A 33 year old man from Bellevue, Nebraska, has been arraigned in South Dakota on charges of Kidnapping, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.
A federal grand jury issued the Indictment of Sean Carlos Payne earlier this month (Nov. 7, 2024). He pleaded not guilty to the charges this week (Nov. 18, 2024).
Payne was originally charged by Criminal Complaint last month (Oct. 21, 2024) after he was arrested near Rawlins, Wyoming. Payne fled a traffic stop and led Wyoming law enforcement officers at high speeds, with the minor in his vehicle. Payne is alleged to have used various internet-based applications and chat platforms to communicate with the minor prior to October 20, 2024. He is also alleged to have solicited sexually explicit images of her and sexually abused her before crossing state lines with her to engage in further illegal sex with her.
Payne has an extensive multi-state criminal history, including an Iowa conviction from June 2024, for attempted enticement of a minor. He also has been charged in Nebraska with aggravated assault, domestic violence and terroristic threats.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for kidnapping is a mandatory minimum of 20 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations and Payne is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Rawlins Wyoming Police Department, and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox is prosecuting the case.
Payne was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
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