Thread: MO - Man Charged With Kidnapping, Child Enticement

Published Online Dec 31, 2012 - 10:02 AM
Trenton Republican-Times

A man who used social media and phone conversations to encourage a teenage girl to leave home has been charged with several offenses, including kidnapping.

According to Trenton Police Chief Tommy Wright, his department began investigating what was initially reported as a runaway juvenile on Friday. During the subsequent investigation, officers determined that a 13-year-old Trenton female had been corresponding by phone and through the computer with a 21-year-old man from the Chicago, IL area. Fearing that the man had come to the Trenton area, Chief Wright said officers responded quickly, notifying agencies in the surrounding area and asking for help in checking area gas stations and motels. With the help of the Chillicothe Police Department, the suspect and the juvenile, were located in a Chillicothe motel. The juvenile was taken to a Kansas City area hospital for treatment, with the suspect, Feliciano (Felix) Lopez Rivera, taken to the Grundy County Detention Center, where he is being held.

In Grundy County, Rivera has been charged with child kidnapping, a class A felony, and is accused of unlawfully removing the child from her residence without the consent of her parents or guardians. In addition, he is charged with enticement of a child, an unclassified felony, and is accused of persuading, soliciting, coaxing or enticing a minor under age 14 by suggesting on Facebook and during telephone conversations that the minor should run away from home with the defendant and she did so for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. In addition to these charges, Rivera is facing two charges in Livingston County of sexual offenses with a minor.

Rivera, whom Chief Wright said is an illegal Mexican immigrant, is being held without bond and on a detainer from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

Chief Wright applauded the quick action of the officers and dispatchers of the Trenton and Chillicothe police departments.

“Without such quick response and a great working relationship between the two agencies, the outcome of this investigation could have been tragic,” said Chief Wright, who also is reminding parents to monitor their children’s internet and phone activity and to talk with them about the dangers of the internet.

Man Charged With Kidnapping, Child Enticement :: Trenton Republican-Times :: Serving Trenton

This child could have easily been sold in the Mexican sex slave market here in the U.S., or worse - murdered and thrown in some well or distant field.

Let this be a warning to parents of young teenage children to monitor their facebook activities well.