A federal judge in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has sentenced Lee Finch, 49, of Houston, Texas, to 180 months imprisonment for coercing and enticing a minor into sexual activity.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lee Finch met the 12-year-old victim in June 2016 during ‘sleepovers’ at his house in Houston. Over the next two years, Finch continued to abuse the minor, both in person and through sexually explicit text messages, despite being ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Finch’s abuse continued even after the minor moved back to Tulsa, and he was eventually charged with a state charge of using a computer to violate Oklahoma statutes. However, he was allowed to plead guilty to a suspended sentence and was released back into the community.
It wasn’t until the minor’s mother discovered the text messages in April 2018 that the full extent of Finch’s abuse was revealed. The mother reported the abuse to the Tulsa Police Department, and Finch was subsequently charged with federal crimes in April 2023.
Lee Finch pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in September 2023. At his sentencing hearing, he was ordered to serve 15 years in federal custody in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Finch will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and Tulsa Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn prosecuting the case.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III. Lee Finch will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and serve 15 years in federal custody.
Finch’s abuse is a stark reminder of the need for continued vigilance in protecting our children from predators like Finch. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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