A 26-year-old man allegedly traveled to Michigan to meet a 13-year-old girl and took her back to his home in Washington, where they reportedly tried to establish a relationship in person.
Benjamin Michael Wier of Spanaway is facing charges of second-degree kidnapping with a focus on sexual motivation. According to Pierce County prosecutors, Wier is accused of taking the girl on July 31 after having communicated with her on Snapchat.
Wier’s arraignment on Tuesday resulted in a plea of not guilty being entered on his behalf. According to court records, Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton has set Wier’s bail at $150,000.
The mother of the 13-year-old girl stated in a victim-impact statement that she sought a protection order for her family against Wier.
Pierce County deputies received a call from a detective sergeant at the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan regarding a teenager who had run away on Monday. According to charging documents, the sergeant mentioned that she might be at a residence in Pierce County.
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A 13-year-old girl attempted to flee recently, but was apprehended by Mecosta County deputies. Pierce County deputies discovered that Wier was reportedly sending inappropriate messages and photos to the girl via Snapchat. According to documents, Wier expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with her.
According to documents, the detective sergeant in Mecosta County stated that it is his belief that the girl packed a bag on July 31 and was subsequently picked up by Wier from her residence.
The Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page recently shared an alert about a missing person, providing important information to the public.
Upon arriving at Wier’s residence in Spanaway, the deputies were greeted by his grandmother at the door. According to her, Wier and the girl were present at the house, and she was confused about the reason behind the deputies’ search.
The grandmother claimed ignorance of the girl’s age. The girl refused to answer her grandmother’s question about her age. According to documents, the grandmother noted that Wier and the girl were not forthcoming about their relationship.
Deputies informed the teenager that they would be accompanying her and requested her to gather her belongings. They entered Wier’s bedroom, where the girl claimed to have been sleeping on the floor. Deputies observed no indications of anyone sleeping on the floor. According to documents, the girl informed deputies that Wier did not cause her any harm.
According to reports, Wier admitted to authorities that he did indeed pick up the girl from Michigan and take her back to his residence. According to him, the teenager expressed her unhappiness and dissatisfaction with her parents through text messages.
Wier has been taken into custody and is currently being held at Pierce County Jail. The charges against him include second-degree rape of a child and second-degree kidnapping, according to official documents.
He admitted to being aware of her age and acknowledged the wrongdoing. He reportedly confessed to engaging in a sexual relationship with her. According to court documents, Wier also expressed romantic feelings towards the teenager to deputies.
Source: AOL