Pettis County authorities are seeking the arrest of a Montana man in a case crossing state lines.
Raymond L.E. Kennedy, 22, of Kalispell, Montana, is facing multiple felony charges in Pettis County Circuit Court, with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor child and four counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15.
Judge Jeff Mittelhauser has issued a warrant for Kennedy’s arrest with a $250,000 bond, cash or surety, and full U.S. extradition.
The Sheriff’s Office received a report in January 2017 that a 13-year-old boy had been in contact with Kennedy through online games and social media. Kennedy reportedly performed sexual acts and asked the boy to perform sexual acts as they communicated through video chat sessions.
Kennedy was an active-duty member of the military at the time but has since been released from the armed forces. He lives in Montana, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
The Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Investigations Division in Montana to locate and apprehend Kennedy. Pettis County Prosecutor Phillip Sawyer filed charges against Kennedy on Wednesday, and Mittelhauser issued the warrant on Thursday.
