United States of America v. Kenneth Owens

Bluefield, West Virginia criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with for attempted enticement of a West Virginia minor to engage in sexual activity. Kenneth Owens, 58, of Surveyor, must also register as a sex offender.



A federal jury found Owens guilty of attempted enticement of a minor on April 7, 2022. Evidence at trial established that Owens attempted to entice a 15-year-old female relative to take and send him sexually explicit photos of herself from April 1, 2020 through Jan. 12, 2021. Owens provided the minor with cigarettes, vapes and alcohol in exchange for the images. Owens initially communicated with the minor female relative through Facebook, and then by cell phone.



United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Beckley Police Department.



Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Scott and Steve Loew prosecuted the case.



ATTEMPTED ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR

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Defendant was sentenced to 121 months, 15 years supervised release, $100 special assessment, $5,000 additional special assessment.