A 26-year-old man is accused of driving to Michigan to pick up a 13-year-old girl and bringing her back to his Washington home where they attempted to pursue an in-person relationship.
Benjamin Michael Wier of Spanaway was charged Tuesday with second-degree kidnapping with an emphasis on sexual motivation. Pierce County prosecutors allege that Wier took the girl July 31 after communicating with her on Snapchat.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Wier's behalf during his arraignment Tuesday. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton set Wier's bail at $150,000, court records show.
The 13-year-old girl's mother wrote in a victim-impact statement that she requested a protection order for her family against Wier.
"This man had taken my child from the front yard of my home in Michigan," the statement said. "All I know is my 13 year old daughter was missing for 6 days and harmed while with him. I don't know any more details. I just know if he's release he could come after her again."
Charging details
Pierce County deputies were contacted by a detective sergeant with the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office in Michigan regarding a runaway teenager Monday. The sergeant said she was possibly at a residence in Pierce County, according to charging documents.
The 13-year-old girl tried to run away a few weeks ago, but Mecosta County deputies found her. Pierce County deputies learned that Wier allegedly was sending the girl illicit messages and photos through Snapchat. Wier allegedly stated he wanted to have sex with her, documents show.
The Mecosta County detective sergeant said he believes the girl packed a bag July 31, and Wier picked her up from her home, documents show.
A missing-persons alert was posted on the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office Facebook page informing the public of the girl's disappearance.
When Pierce County deputies arrived at Wier's home in Spanaway, his grandmother answered the door. She said Wier and the girl were at the house and was puzzled as to why the deputies were looking for them.
The grandmother said she did not know the girl was a teenager. When the grandmother asked the girl how old she was, the teenager would not answer her. The grandmother described Wier and the girl as being tight-lipped about their relationship, documents show.
Deputies told the teenager she was going with them and asked her to grab her belongings. They went to Wier's bedroom, and the girl said she had been sleeping on the floor. Deputies noted there were no signs that someone was sleeping on the floor. The girl told deputies that Wier did not hurt her, documents show.
Wier allegedly told deputies that he did pick up the girl from Michigan and brought her back to his house. He said the teenager told him over text that she was unhappy and did not like her parents.
Wier was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree rape of a child and second-degree kidnapping, document show.
He said he knew she was 13 years old and that it was wrong. He allegedly admitted to having sex with her. Wier also told deputies he was in love with the teenager, court documents show.
Deputies asked the teenager for her phone, and she refused. They noticed a "Pierce County Parks" identification card that fell out of her pocket. Her first name was on it and her last name was listed as "Wier."
The teenager was taken to the Parkland/Spanaway precinct of the Department of Child Youth and Family services. While there, the girl told deputies that Wier initiated contact with her on Snapchat. She said they had been talking about four months prior to him picking her up from Michigan, documents show.
The girl said she did not get along with her father and felt that Wier was the only one who would listen to her. The girl was later cleared from her missing-person status after her family was informed.
Deputies learned that Wier was listed as a suspect in a child pornography case.
___
(c)2024 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Visit The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) at www.TheNewsTribune.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
