A New Mexico man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually exploiting a 12-year-old girl in Ohio nearly two years ago.
Joseph Gunter, 41, admitted guilt in a federal court in February to charges of child sexual exploitation and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, as reported by WKBN.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Gunter connected with the young girl on Twitter and exchanged messages with her for several months before he traveled 1,600 miles from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Ohio to abduct her.
At one point, the girl deleted the app he had used to communicate with her, but when she created a new account, he quickly found her.
On September 21, 2023, the girl was walking in her neighborhood when Gunter pulled up “beside her and threatened her with a gun if she didn’t get into his vehicle,” according to a release from the acting US Attorney.
“He then transported the minor victim out of state with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with her,” the release said. “On the drive back to his home in New Mexico, they stayed in several hotels where he proceeded to physically assault and repeatedly rape her.”
The girl was reported missing later that day, and investigators soon identified the suspect as Gunter. License plate readers in Gray County, Texas, spotted his vehicle, and officers conducted a traffic stop, finding the victim and two firearms in the vehicle, WJW said.
He was arrested and extradited to Ohio, where he ultimately pleaded guilty to exploitation and transportation but not kidnapping, rape, or gun charges.
Still, U.S. District Judge Charles E. Fleming sentenced him to 28 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after his term is complete, the US Attorney’s Office said. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the amy, vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act and $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
