West Texas man sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to have sex with him

ABILENE, Texas — A West Texas man was sentenced Monday to 135 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in May 2016 to one count of enticement of a minor.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.  This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Abilene (Texas) Police Department, and the Taylor County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office.

William David Harden, 65, formerly of Tye, Texas, has been in custody since his arrest based on a federal indictment in August 2015.

According to documents filed in this case, from about May to July 2015, Harden engaged in a cellphone texting relationship with a female minor under age 17.  Specifically, in early July 2015, Harden knowingly persuaded, induced, and enticed, and attempted to persuade, induce and entice this minor female to have sex with him, suggesting to the girl that by doing so, she could repay him for arranging to get a motel room where she could meet up with a friend.

At the Sept. 19 sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor also ordered that Harden forfeit his 2008 pickup truck that he used to transport this girl and another minor to that motel.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock, Texas, was in charge of this prosecution.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.