Copyright Chicago Tribune
A U.S. Marine is facing federal charges after going to Hammond to pick up a 12-year-old girl to take her across state lines for sex, according to an FBI press release. William Richard Roy, 24, stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, was charged Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana with Enticement of a Minor to Travel for Illicit Sexual Activity, Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity and Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Minor. It was unclear late Thursday if he had a lawyer. Hammond Police called the FBI’s Merrillville Field Office to report that she was likely with Roy after the girl’s grandmother reported her missing on Oct. 25, according to the news release. The FBI, Hammond Police and U.S. Marshals concluded Roy flew to Chicago the prior day, took a rideshare to Hammond and met the girl at a park. He took her back to Chicago, stayed overnight at a hotel, then boarded a bus for Durham the next day. Roy was arrested Oct. 26 by the FBI when they arrived. Agents “safely recovered” the girl, the release states. The investigation is ongoing. mcolias@post-trib.com
