Hartford City man charged with conspiring to kidnap, sexually exploit juveniles
HARTFORD CITY, Ind. — An investigation prompted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has resulted in the filing of felony charges against a Hartford City man.
Michael Vaughn Winters, 27, is charged in Blackford Circuit Court with promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, vicarious sexual gratification, inappropriate communication with a child and four counts of child solicitation.
In an affidavit, Derek Bogenschutz — a sergeant with the Jay County Sheriff's Department and active with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force — recounts Winters' online dealings with two juvenile girls, one reportedly from Huntington and the other from New England.
In a July exchange with the Indiana girl, Winters reportedly indicated he was "a creep looking for young girls that want to be groomed."
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The online conversations also included graphic discussions of planned sexual activity and the Hartford City man's desire to "kidnap" the teen.
He also allegedly expressed a desire to sexually assault a young child.
Winters was arrested on Nov. 9. He continued to be held in the Blackford County jail Wednesday under a $5,000 cash bond.
At a Monday initial hearing, the Hartford City resident received a June 20 trial date.
The most serious charge against Winters is a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison. Five of the other charges are Level 5 felonies with maximum six-year sentences.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Blackford man charged with planning to sexually exploit juveniles
