NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BRADLEY J. SCHLOZMAN

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

JANUARY 18, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALIFORNIA MAN SENTENCED

FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A MINOR

FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Bradley J. Schlozman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a California, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for using the Internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

William S. Pace, 34, of California, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey this afternoon to five years in federal prison without parole.

On Aug. 29, 2006, Pace pleaded guilty to using the Internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Pace admitted that he contacted a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl in an Internet chat room in December 2004. In reality, Schlozman said, Pace was communicating with an undercover officer with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. During these online chats, Pace initiated conversations regarding sexually explicit conduct, including having sexual intercourse with her, and repeatedly tried to make plans to meet in person. He also sent a live video image of himself.

On Dec. 8, 2004, Pace arranged to meet the girl at her house and then go to a motel. He was arrested when he arrived at the residence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Phillips. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

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