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Police have arrested an Illinois man who they say traveled to Sevier County to have sex with a 13-year-old girl after communicating with her through a messaging app.
According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, officers charged 21-year-old Ryan K. Herrmann, of Rock City, Ill., with one count of statutory rape after their investigation found he traveled to Sevier County to have sex with a minor child.
Officers responded to a call Monday morning, March 16, 2015, from the victim’s father after he encountered Herrmann in a car near his home and Herrmann claimed that he was having car trouble.
The investigation revealed the Herrmann and a 13-year-old girl who lived in the home had been talking for about two weeks using the Kik Messenger app before arranging to meet in person. Herrmann had told the girl he was 17.
A release from the Sevier County Sheriff’s office said Herrmann allegedly lured the girl out of her home at approximately 3 a.m. and that they had consensual sex inside his car while parked near her house. The girl then returned home.
A neighbor later alerted the victim’s father after seeing the car with Illinois plates sitting in the road.
Officers found evidence at the scene to substantiate the victim’s story and Herrmann was taken into custody at that time.
21-year-old Ryan K. Herrmann, of Rock City, Ill.
Herrmann was arraigned before a Magistrate and a $20,000 bond was set. He was released on bond Tuesday and has a hearing date set for April 13, 2015. The investigation is continuing at this time.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
