Joshua Pennington, Online Enticement of a Minor, Indiana 2019

An Ohio man has been sentenced to 136 months in prison for his role in the online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Joshua Pennington, 29 years old, of Reading, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to the crime in January 2019.

According to documents in the case, Pennington began contacting a minor through social media in September 2018. The minor eventually agreed to meet Pennington, who traveled from Ohio to Indiana in January 2019.

Pennington picked up the minor and drove to a church parking lot, where they engaged in sexual activity. When a police officer approached his car, Pennington directed the minor to tell the officer he/she was over the age of 18.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lafayette Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Maciejczyk.

As a result of his guilty plea, Pennington will spend 136 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. When released from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

This is a sobering reminder of the dangers of online predators and the importance of protecting our children from those who would seek to harm them.

In related news, the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to warn parents and children about the dangers of online enticement and the importance of staying safe online.

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