ST. GEORGE, Utah – In a grim testament to the dangers of online predators, Ryan Gary Patch, 28, of Dayton, Ohio, has been sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for his heinous act of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl from California. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Patch pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025, to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Patch was apprehended in Cedar City, Utah, following the girl’s daring use of technology to contact her family and alert authorities. The victim, whose phone was destroyed by Patch before her abduction, used a new Instagram account on an iPad gifted by her captor to communicate with loved ones from California. Authorities in Cedar City tracked down the abductor based on the victim’s provided location.
Upon arrest, Patch repeatedly claimed the girl was his sister. However, police confirmed that she was the abducted teen after speaking with her. Further investigation led to the discovery of child sexual abuse materials depicting the victim and detailing Patch’s intentions on an iPad found in the car. Snapchat accounts associated with Patch also contained explicit content and messages involving underage minors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “It was only due to the victim’s technological savvy and quick thinking that Patch’s terrifying plan was undone. His actions have inflicted trauma no one should have to endure.”
The case was a joint effort by the Utah Department of Public Safety: Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Cedar City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton and Brady Wilson prosecuted the case, which was part of Project Safe Childhood, the DOJ’s initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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