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Press Release

Minnesota Man Charged With Kidnapping Kansas Girl

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Kansas

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Minnesota man was charged Monday with kidnapping a 13-year-old Kansas girl and taking her to St. Paul, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Dechon White, 23, St. Paul, Minn., is charged with one count of kidnapping. Documents filed in the case allege White and the victim met online in February 2018. On July 1, White came to visit the victim at her home in Lenexa, Kan. He told the victim’s mother he was 16 years old. During his stay in Lenexa, he had sex with the victim.

On July 4, White and the victim told her mother they were going to a shopping mall. Instead, they went to a Greyhound bus station in Kansas City and took a bus to St. Paul.

After the victim’s mother reported her missing, police found White and the victim at his residence in St. Paul.

If convicted, White faces a penalty of not less than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lenexa Police Department, the South St. Paul Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Flannigan and David Zabel are prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

Updated July 9, 2018

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
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