An Indiana couple was indicted for transporting a minor over state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Nicholas Lawler, 25, and Brittany Lawler, 23, both of Anderson, Indiana, were indicted on one count of transportation of a minor and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity between Jan. 1, 2015 and April 3, 2015.
If convicted, the defendants sentences will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, and each defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, the Tiffin Police Department and the Anderson (Indiana) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
