Virginia man indicted for traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Johnnie William Bateman, III, of Culpepper, Virginia, will be arraigned Tuesday after being indicted by a grand jury sitting in Martinsburg on March 21, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, announced.

Bateman, age 39, was indicted on one count of “Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.” Bateman is accused of traveling from Virginia to Berkeley County, West Virginia in August 2016 to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.

Bateman faces up to thirty years and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. . A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.