On Monday, June 24, a Slater man pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting a 16-year-old girl across state lines for illegal sexual activity.
According to a release on the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Missouri’s website, 35-year-old Daniel Lee Kirby pleaded guilty to the charge contained in a July 11, 2018, federal indictment. By pleading guilty, Kirby admitted that he transported an individual under the age of 17 between March 4 and June 25, 2018, with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
The 16-year-old was discovered missing from her bedroom in East Ridge, Tennessee, at approximately 1:20 a.m. on March 4, 2018. Kirby was employed as a truck driver with Celadon Trucking, which reported its GPS tracking of Kirby’s rig showed him at a nearby parking lot with its motor off at approximately the same time. Although Kirby denied having contact with the child, Celadon Trucking searched Kirby’s rig for the child on multiple occasions after receiving tips he was harboring her.
On June 25, 2018, law enforcement received information that the child was living with Kirby in Slater. She was located with Kirby and was placed into emergency foster care by the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division. Kirby was arrested.
Kirby told investigators he met the victim on Facebook. He considered her to be his girlfriend and admitted they had a sexual relationship. He agreed with and assisted in her plan to run away, and solicited her to move in with him. He also admitted that he picked her up in Tennessee and transported her to Missouri.
Kirby is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Slater, Mo., Police Department, the FBI and the State Technical Assistance Team.