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United States of America v. Harrison Michael Barton
Date: 02-06-2026
Case Number: 25-cr-00120
Judge: Edmund A. Sargus
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Franklin County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office in Columbus
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Columbus, Ohio, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with kidnapping and sexual exploitation of children.
In February 2025, Harrison Michael Barton, 38, of North Detroit, Texas, took a Greyhound bus from Texas to Ohio to meet a 15-year-old approximately one month after connecting with the victim on the Call of Duty mobile game.
At the time, Barton was wanted on an outstanding parole warrant out of Texas stemming from a prior conviction for online solicitation of a minor, in which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Barton admitted that, in this instant case, the teenager picked him up in Newcomerstown, Ohio. Prior to arriving at the airport, the defendant admitted to having vaginal and oral sex with the minor and to taking sexually explicit pictures of the victim.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Coshocton County Sheriff Christopher Walters; Newark Police Chief Erik McKee; and John Glenn Columbus International Airport Police Chief Ronald Gray announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
In February 2025, Harrison Michael Barton, 38, of North Detroit, Texas, took a Greyhound bus from Texas to Ohio to meet a 15-year-old approximately one month after connecting with the victim on the Call of Duty mobile game.
At the time, Barton was wanted on an outstanding parole warrant out of Texas stemming from a prior conviction for online solicitation of a minor, in which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Barton admitted that, in this instant case, the teenager picked him up in Newcomerstown, Ohio. Prior to arriving at the airport, the defendant admitted to having vaginal and oral sex with the minor and to taking sexually explicit pictures of the victim.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Coshocton County Sheriff Christopher Walters; Newark Police Chief Erik McKee; and John Glenn Columbus International Airport Police Chief Ronald Gray announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.
Outcome:
The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Harrison Michael Barton?
The outcome was: The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Which court heard United States of America v. Harrison Michael Barton?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Franklin County), OH. The presiding judge was Edmund A. Sargus.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Harrison Michael Barton?
Plaintiff's attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office in Columbus. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Columbus Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Harrison Michael Barton decided?
This case was decided on February 6, 2026.