Erie, Kansas Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Offense by a Registered Sex Offender

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Erie, Kan. man has been charged by criminal complaint for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing that offense as a registered sex offender.

Richard V. Mitchell, 63, appeared in federal court today on a two-count criminal complaint.

According to court documents, Mitchell requested a minor child be transported from the Western District of Missouri to Erie, Kan. to engage in sexual activity with Mitchell. Mitchell is a registered sex offender in the State of Kansas.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."