ANDREW O'BRIEN

     The Sheriff’s Office arrested a Junction City, Kansas man early Saturday morning after receiving a complaint that he was driving to Mountain Home to clandestinely meet a 16 year old girl he had been communicating with on social media.  The girl had been sending sexually explicit photos and videos to him at his request.   The parents were concerned for the safety of the child.  The man had arranged to meet her at a business parking lot on Highway 5 South of Mountain Home near the girl’s house. 

     A Sheriff’s Deputy set up surveillance at the location.  At approximately 12:47 AM, he observed a vehicle drive past the area twice, then pull in and park.  After parking, the man sent a text message to the girl stating he was close by.  The man then walked from his car along Highway 5 South past the girl’s house, then to the meeting location.  The man went behind the building.  The deputy then approached and made contact with the man, who was identified as 31 year old ANDREW MITCHELL O’BRIEN of Junction City, Kansas.  After a brief exchange, ANDREW O’BRIEN was arrested and taken into custody.  His vehicle was then searched.  Deputies found handcuffs, vodka, condoms in the vehicle, as well as two cell phones believed to have been used in commission of the crimes.  All of these were seized and taken into evidence.

     ANDREW O’BRIEN was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and incarcerated on charges of:

Engaging Children In Sexually Explicit Conduct for Use in Visual or Print Medium – Felony
Contributing to the Delinquency of  Juvenile – Felony

     He is being held in lieu of $50,00 bond on those charges and will appear in Circuit Court to answer on December 20th.  ANDREW O’BRIEN was determined to be on active military duty stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.  The military base was contacted regarding the incident, and the military police have also placed a detainer on O’BRIEN.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff