An Alliance Man is serving time in prison after being sentenced recently in Box Butte County District Court.
According to the Affidavit for Custody, on March 9, at approximately 3:07 a.m., Austin Lamb
Lamb sent a friend request on Facebook to an account portraying a 14-year-old female, which was operated by the Alliance Police Department.
An investigator who operates the page accepted the request from Lamb and Lamb initiated a conversation at approximately 3:09 a.m. He sent messages to the fake profile, stating things such as “I wish we could cuddle.”
The investigator began exchanging messages with Lamb at 10:27 a.m., and the conversation lasted until approximately 1:30 p.m. The investigator asked Lamb how old he is, and Lamb responded, “Y u ask”. The investigator told Lamb that she is 14, and Lamb responded that he is 23.
“During this conversation, Lamb made several lewd and lascivious comments to an individual in which he believed to be a 14 year old girl,” the Affidavit for Custody states.
Lamb asked for the girl’s address, and the investigator provided an address that they believed to be a vacant home. Lamb left his residence to walk to the address the investigator provided. Officers observed Lamb walking to the residence, and he was taken into custody. Lamb was in possession of his cell phone at the time of the arrest.
A search warrant was signed by the County Judge at the time the conversation was taking place. A search of Lamb’s phone showed GPS directions to the address given and Lamb’s Facebook messages. After being read his Miranda Warnings, Lamb admitted he made a mistake, noting he thought the girl who was portrayed was attractive. He admitted to sending the messages.
“Lamb indicated he wanted to take the juvenile’s virginity,” the Affidavit for Custody states.
Lamb was charged with child enticement—electronic communication device, a class 1D felony, and enticement by electronic communication device, a class 4 felony. Through a plea agreement, count one was amended to attempted child enticement—electronic communication device, a class 2 felony, and the second count was dismissed. He pleaded no contest to the charge and was found guilty.
On Oct. 27, Box Butte County District Court Judge Travis O’Gorman sentenced Lamb, to serve six to 10 years in prison. Lamb was given credit for 244 days served.