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Man guilty of having sex with runaway child; jury unable to come up with sentence. Date published: 3/6/2009
BY KEITH EPPS A Stafford County jury was unable late Wednesday to agree on a prison term for a county man who had sex repeatedly with a runaway teenager who showed up at his home last year. Travis Austin Lutton, 24, was convicted of four counts of carnal knowledge of a child after a jury trial in Stafford Circuit Court. The jury could have recommended a sentence of eight to 40 years, but was unable to do so. After 11 p.m., it was finally agreed that Judge Charles Sharp would sentence Lutton on May 1. According to the evidence presented by prosecutor Mark McDonald, Lutton took advantage of a troubled 14-year-old Northern Virginia girl he'd met on MySpace several months earlier. The girl's troubles included being molested between the ages of 6 and 13 by a family friend. That man recently committed suicide after learning he was being investigated. On July 4, the girl testified that she was upset after learning that man was coming over. She asked Lutton to come get her, but he refused. So she took a taxi from Alexandria to Lutton's home in Aquia Harbour. She hadn't seen Lutton before. The girl then described a wild weekend that including drug use, drinking and multiple sex acts. She was taken into custody after an Aquia Harbour police officer caught her sneaking back into the subdivision and realized she was a runaway. Lutton didn't testify at his trial, but according to testimony he gave damaging evidence in an interview with Stafford Detective Tim Martin. Lutton denied having sexual intercourse with the child, but he admitted to a number of other sex acts, including using a condom-covered sex toy on the girl. McDonald asked the jury for a lengthy prison term. He said Lutton took an already "damaged" child and made her worse. The girl, now 15 and in foster care, said she tried to commit suicide a few weeks ago. She said she has nightmares and severe anger about Lutton's actions with her. "I really did love him," the sobbing victim said. "He gave me the happiest days. Now he gave me the worst." Defense attorney Vanessa Jordan acknowledged that Lutton used poor judgment. But she said he shouldn't take all the blame for the girl's problems and pointed out that she showed up at his home uninvited. Lutton still has numerous charges pending in Stafford, including taking indecent liberties with a child and numerous counts of possessing child pornography. He has three more trials scheduled in Stafford Circuit Court, including two with juries. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
This guy could have just not let her in...called the cops. Just being in his house could have gotten him arrested. Pictures and associations off of myspace and im can get you arrested. someone said in an earlier post "who is the adult in the relationship"-exactly. These words from Pedophiles-sex offenders never cease to amaze me. Its always the same story after they get caught.
….they won't hesitate to recommend a sentence (485 years sounds good). This guy needs to go to prison for a long time. He took total advantage of an emotionally wrecked CHILD and added additional trauma on top. And for his lawyer to imply he's not at fault because she showed up on his door step???? GET REAL! Who's the adult in this situation?? This goes way beyond poor judgment!! Why’s the jury hesitating?? Go for the maximum!!
The guy has other child molestation charges against him and child pornography? I don't think I would believe a word he says. This girl had already been abused. I think he sweet talked her promised she was loved and would be safe then he used her for his own sick satisfaction. This guy is no good but we know they will put him back out on the street because he has all these rights. What about this young girls rights. How about some conseling for this child so she dosn't feel she has to end her life.
The guy molested the girl....it does not matter if she showed up invited or not. He could have let her stay the night to keep her from seeing the family friend then returned her home the next day without violating her or he could have called the cops and told them she was molested by the family friend and that she showed up at his place. The victim has no idea what boundaries are, he was suppose to be an adult. I say lock his ass up for a long time.
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