Man pleads guilty to sex crime in federal court, admits to raping teen
ST. LOUIS (KMIZ)
A Mexico, Missouri, man admitted in federal court on Thursday to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
According to the Department of Justice, Jacob Burney, 24, admitted to raping the teenager after the teen ran away from home in 2021. He pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act.
In a plea agreement, the suspect said he gave the teen alcohol and drugs before raping them. Burney switched vehicles and left Missouri to prevent law enforcement officers from finding the teen. They traveled to Illinois and then Las Vegas.
The mandatory minimum sentence is 10 years behind bars. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 12.
Before Dec. 8, 2021, the victim ran away from home to be with Burney, according to a press release. The teen was reported missing, and Homeland Security Investigations received a National Hotline Tip on Dec. 14, 2021 about the missing teen.
