Missouri, Kansas, Iowa men charged with child sex crimes

Multiple men from Kansas, Missouri and Iowa have been charged with child sex crimes in separate cases.

Kansas

Ruben Gutierrez II, 25, of Lenexa, Kansas, is accused of traveling to Missouri to engage in sexual conduct with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.

Gutierrez allegedly arranged to meet the “teen” for sexual conduct and drove from Kansas to Missouri for the meeting. He was arrested Sunday at the meeting location. A search of his phone allegedly uncovered text messages with the undercover officer posing as the minor.

Gutierrez was charged with one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Richard Mitchell, 63, of Erie, Kansas, a registered sex offender, allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with a minor from another state.

According to charging documents, Mitchell requested that a child be transported from western Missouri to Erie, Kansas, so he could engage in sexual conduct with the child. He was charged Monday by criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and with committing that offense as a registered sex offender.

Colton Wiggins, 25, of Wichita, Kansas, is accused of distributing child sexual abuse material. According to investigators, Wiggins used a computer to distribute the material. He was charged Wednesday with one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Missouri

Scott R. Smith, 35, of Gladstone, Missouri, is accused of attempting to pay to have sex with a 15-year-old girl.

According to investigators, Smith communicated online for four days with someone he believed was a teenager but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. He allegedly arranged to meet the “teen” at a hotel and intended to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for $200.

Smith was arrested Monday at the hotel and charged Wednesday with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

Iowa

Lyle Moser, 51, of Iowa, is accused of traveling across state lines to engage in sexual conduct with a child.

According to investigators, Moser traveled from Iowa to Kansas City intending to have sex with a child but was arrested by law enforcement before the meeting occurred. A forensic examination of his electronic devices allegedly uncovered images of child sexual abuse material.

Moser was charged with traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receipt of child pornography.

All charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in federal court.