North Dakota Man Guilty of Traveling for Sex with Minor

A North Dakota man has pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. CHRISTOHER J. BRERETON, 34, of Fargo, North Dakota, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to the crime in a U.S. District Court in Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2020, Brereton began chatting online with a minor female who had an online profile stating she was 18 years old. However, a law enforcement officer later took over the minor’s account and informed Brereton that the girl was actually 15 years old. Brereton continued to chat with the ‘girl,’ discussed engaging in sexual activity with her and made plans to drive to Connecticut meet her for sex.

On March 12, 2020, Brereton began driving from North Dakota and he arrived at a hotel in Meriden the next day. He was arrested later that day by New Haven Police on state charges after he drove to a location where he had arranged to meet the ‘girl.’

Brereton has been detained since his arrest. Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for October 8, 2021, at which time Brereton faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. government’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which aims to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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