An Ottawa man pleaded guilty yesterday, Tuesday March 19th to a federal charge that he drove to Missouri to meet what he believed was a mother who was willing to sell he 10-year-old daughter for sex. Sixty-four year old Michael David Mitchell of Ottawa pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. The investigation began when investigators received information that Mitchell was looking for a woman with a minor child who he could make his sex slaves. Mitchell communicated with an undercover investigator posing as a broker who could find Mitchell what he wanted. In his plea, Mitchell admitted that in June 2017 he drove from Ottawa to Independence, Missouri, to meet a woman he had been told was willing to make the deal. He brought money with him to pay a 5 thousand dollar finder’s fee. Sentencing is set for April 24th. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to 250 thousand dollars. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their wotk on the case.
