N.Y. man indicted on sex crime involving North Olmsted girl

The Cleveland Division of the FBI and the North Olmsted Police Department announced Oct. 8 the arrest of a Bayport, N.Y., man accused of traveling to Ohio with the intent on having sex with a minor, according to a news release.

Brandon Thomas Kern, 27, is facing a charge in federal court of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On Oct. 7, a 14-year-old girl and her mother filed a report with North Olmsted police regarding online activity between the minor and Kern, the release said.

The teen told law enforcement that she had been communicating with Kern for several weeks and believed he was 16 years old until he told her he had rented a vehicle and soon would arrive in Ohio to have sex with her, according to the release.

The girl became frightened and told her mother about her online communications with Kern.

He threatened the victim by releasing inappropriate photos of her as a means to force her to meet with him, the release said.

At the time of filing the police report, Kern continued to communicate with the teen arranging to pick her up at a North Olmsted library where she could easily walk to, the release said.

Instead, North Olmsted police met Kern and arrested him without incident.

Kern admitted to communicating with the girl and indicated that law enforcement officers would find rope, lubricants and condoms in a nearby hotel room he had rented for the purpose of having sex with the minor victim, the release said.

He was scheduled to have an initial appearance at 2 p.m., Oct. 8, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Ruiz.