LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday for attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a child.
Steven B. Earnest, 35, was previously found guilty of attempted sex trafficking of children and attempted online enticement. According to court documents, Earnest used the internet to communicate with an individual to negotiate pay to engage in sexual conduct with a 12-year-old.
Earnest then traveled to an agreed upon location, with money, to engage in the sexual conduct, where he was arrested.
“I commend the work of the Secret Service, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the Jeffersontown Police Department for their outstanding work during the investigation of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “The protection of our most vulnerable citizens is a top priority of this office. Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners we will continue to identify, apprehend, and aggressively prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit our children.”
There is no parole in the federal system. Earnest will be subject to 30 years of supervised release following his prison term.
This case was the result of a joint federal, state, and local operation called Operation Angel, aimed at making federal arrests of individuals who preyed upon children. The United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, and the Jeffersontown Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
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.
If you or someone you know may be a victim of sex trafficking, contact local law enforcement.