Man accused of traveling across state lines to have sex with Muscatine girl is indicted

The 35-year-old man accused in the disappearance of a 12-year-old Muscatine girl last month was indicted Wednesday in federal court for three counts involving enticement of a minor for sexual activities.

Justin David Carter is charged with enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities, travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transportation to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Carter is accused of taking a seventh-grade girl from Muscatine, across state lines to have sex. He was initially arrested on drug charges in Jacksonville, Fla. after the girl was found in a tent a few blocks from his home.

The girl's parents hadn't been able to reach her for three days since she had left a text message for them, according to police reports. The girl's friends told her parents she had gone to Texas or Florida with an older boyfriend. The girl's cell phone records led authorities to Carter.