Lenexa Man Charged with Child Exploitation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Lenexa, Kan., man was charged in federal court today with attempting to pay for illicit sex with a 12-year-old child after being caught in an undercover sting operation.

Guardian Angel is an undercover law enforcement operation targeting the demand for child sex trafficking in the Kansas City metro area by targeting the customers of child prostitution and prosecuting the alleged violators under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

John J. McCarthy, 24, of Lenexa, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. McCarthy, who remains in custody, is expected to appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, McCarthy contacted a person whom he believed to be the mother of two children but who was actually an undercover Kansas City police detective. After initially making contact through a social Web site, McCarthy began communicating by e-mail and texting.

McCarthy told the undercover detective that he would love to teach her two daughters how to satisfy a man, the affidavit says, and that a mom watching and joining in with her daughters is a big fantasy of his. Beginning on July 24, 2013, the undercover detective began exchanging numerous text messages with McCarthy over several days and he allegedly asked if he could meet the mother and her daughters. She responded that she would rather meet him first without the girls.

On July 29, 2013, the undercover detective met McCarthy at a public location. She described her daughters as 16 and 12 years old. McCarthy allegedly said that the 12-year-old was the one that he wanted first, and began to describe the sexual acts he intended to do with her. The undercover detective said that she had to get something in return for all of this and he allegedly agreed to pay $50. McCarthy told her that he would like to do this soon, the affidavit says, maybe as soon as the next day.

McCarthy sent the undercover detective a text message the next day, July 30, 2013, according to the affidavit, saying he was free for the night and did not have to work in the evening. They arranged for a time to meet, and at approximately 6:36 p.m., McCarthy called and said that he was in the area. The undercover detective directed him to an apartment.  Once McCarthy entered the apartment, he allegedly showed the undercover detective the lubrication that he brought for use with the 12-year-old. McCarthy gave her $60, the affidavit says. She reiterated to McCarthy the sexual acts – including oral and vaginal sex – that he previously said he intended on performing on and with the 12-year-old, to which he allegedly responded affirmatively.

The undercover detective told McCarthy the girl was in the bedroom and that he could enter. As McCarthy opened the door and walked into the bedroom he was placed under arrest by Kansas City police officers.

Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.