LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man is now facing federal charges after allegedly sexually assaulting three young teenagers who were reported missing in early May.
On June 21, a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging 44-year-old Brian Sauer with four counts of "transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity."
Sauer was already facing state charges such as kidnapping a minor, rape - 3rd degree, unlawful transaction with a minor - 3rd degree, and sexual abuse - 3rd degree.
All of these charges are from an incident where Sauer allegedly picked up three teens from the side of the road, gave them marijuana, and drove them to Cox Park in Louisville where he sexually assaulted one of the victims.
He then took the girls to a Clarksville, Indiana motel where he repeatedly sexually assaulted the three victims, according to court documents.
Federal documents reveal they went to a local Walmart and shoplifted some items as well as drove one of the victims to a parking lot on University of Louisville's campus where they smoked marijuana and he sexually assaulted the victims again.
Sauer allegedly later dropped all three teens off at a trailer park where one of the teen's relatives lived in Louisville.
Federal documents show he told the girls the age of consent for sex was seven.
According to law enforcement, Sauer knew the three victims were missing when he picked them up. He was a stranger to all three victims.
Sauer is scheduled for arraignment on June 23. If convicted, Sauer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum potential penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
We will update this story with more information as we learn more.
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