Wisconsin man indicted for taking 14-year-old girl across state lines to have sex

A judge ordered home detention Tuesday for a 30-year-old Wisconsin man indicted last week in federal court for transporting a 14-year-old Iowa girl across state lines to have sex.

Christopher Heath-Lowther of Platteville, Wisc., is charged with one count of transporting a minor across a state line with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of traveling across a state line for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, according to an unsealed indictment Sept. 10.

FBI Special Agent Thomas Reinwart testified during the detention hearing that the 14-year-old Maquoketa girl told authorities she had sex with Heath-Lowther in Maquoketa and in Wisconsin on four separate occasions between 2013 and February 2014. The girl told police she contacted Heath-Lowther through a messenger program on her phone or computer, and he would pick her up in Maquoketa and they would travel in his car to Plattville.

Heath-Lowther also admitted to authorities that he had sex with the teenager and he admitted to knowing her age, Reinwart said.

Reinwart said a search warrant issued for Heath-Lowther's phone and computer revealed sexually explicit photos he sent to the girl and photos he received from her. The sexually explicit photos didn't show the girl's face but other photos retrieved showed Heath-Lowther with the girl.

Reinwart said the girl became pregnant from the relationship and she gave birth last week.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel asked U.S. District Chief Magistrate Jon Scoles to detain Heath-Lowther pending his Nov. 17 trial.

Max Wolson, Heath-Lowther's federal public defender, asked the court to release him pending trial, arguing he wasn't a risk for flight or a danger to the community. The search warrant was executed back in February, when Heath-Lowther talked to police, and he had remained working in Plattsville and hasn't contacted the 14-year-old, he said.

Wolson also said Heath-Lowther didn't have a criminal history and the court could impose restrictions and conditions of release.

Scoles said based on the defendant's clean record, employment and the probation's office recommendation, he would impose home detention. Heath-Lowther also must maintain employment, undergo a mental health evaluation and will be on GPS monitoring at his expense.

Scoles said Heath-Lowther will also be prohibited from contact with the girl and her family, and other people under the age of 18.

He is prohibited from going to places minors may be such as parks, schools and swimming pools.

If convicted, Heath-Lowther faces 10 years to life, a $500,000 fine and five years or more on supervised release following any prison term.