Man Pleads Not Guilty To Transporting Pocatello Girls For Sex
Wayne Allen Ginnis, 28, of Seattle pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Pocatello to a charge of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to have sexual activity with the minor, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
Co-defendant James Russell Ashley, 47, of Augusta, Ga., was arraigned Aug. 24. The trial for both men is set for Feb. 14 before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The indictment alleges that in May, Ashley and Ginnis bought bus tickets for two girls, ages 12 and 13, both from Pocatello, to travel to Hollywood, Calif., with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the girls. The girls and the men met on an Internet game site and later talked by cell phone, according to a news release.
The girls were intercepted by police in St. George, Utah, and returned to their home.
The charge of transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to have sexual activity with the minor is punishable by a minimum term of ten years up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to a lifetime supervised release.
