Slater Man Indicted for Transporting a Minor for Illicit Sex

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Slater, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for transporting a 16-year-old victim across state lines for illegal sexual activity.

Daniel Lee Kirby, 34, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. The federal indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Kirby on July 3, 2018.

The federal indictment alleges that Kirby transported an individual under the age of 17 between March 4, 2018, and June 25, 2018, with the intent to engage in sexual activity.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the 16-year-old victim was discovered missing from her bedroom in East Ridge, Tenn., at approximately 1:20 a.m. on March 4, 2018. Kirby was employed as a truck driver with Celadon Trucking, who reported their GPS tracking of Kirby’s rig showed him at a nearby parking lot, with its motor off, at approximately the same time. Kirby denied having contact with the child victim. Celadon Trucking searched Kirby’s rig for the child victim on multiple occasions.

On June 25, 2018, law enforcement received information that the child victim was living with Kirby in Slater. She was located with Kirby, who was arrested, and placed into emergency foster care by the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division.

The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

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.