Washington State Man pleads guilty after traveling across state lines for sex with minors | USAO-OR

EUGENE, Ore. – A man from Vancouver, Washington, pleaded guilty today to sending sexually explicit emails and text messages to an undercover law enforcement officer posing online as a 13-year-old girl, acting US attorney Scott Erik Asphaug announced.

Daniel Lee Baldie, 34, pleaded guilty to forcing and seducing a minor.

According to court records, in January and February 2020, Baldie sent emails and text messages to a deputy from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office posing online as a 13-year-old girl. Baldie’s emails included requests for a nude photo and descriptions of sexual acts he could do with the child. Baldie also sent the deputy a photo of his genitals. As part of the email and text message exchanges, Baldie made an appointment with the alleged child and brought him back to his apartment in Vancouver for a sexual encounter.

On February 7, 2020, officers followed Baldie from his apartment to a meeting point in Corvallis, where he was arrested. Baldie admitted that he intended to meet the child and bring them back to their apartment as planned.

On February 11, 2020, Baldie was charged with criminal charges of travel with intent to engage in illegal sexual behavior, attempted child pornography production, and coercion and seduction.

Baldie faces a maximum sentence for life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, a fine of $ 250,000 and a life sentence under custody. He will be tried on July 8, 2021 in U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken.

Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Baldie must register as a sex offender in every state he resides in.

This case has been investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. It is being followed up by Jeffrey Sweet, U.S. Assistant Attorney for Oregon District.

Anyone with information about child exploitation, whether physical or online, is encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

This case was filed under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Justice Department in May 2006 to tackle the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.