Wichita Man Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Case Involving Teen Runaway from Kentucky
WICHITA, KANSAS — A 22-year-old Wichita man has pleaded guilty to multiple child sex crimes after helping a 14-year-old Kentucky runaway travel to Kansas for an illegal sexual relationship, according to prosecutors.
Court records show Samuel L. Loredo entered guilty pleas on Friday to five felony counts including criminal sodomy, indecent liberties with a child, aggravated interference with parental custody, and sexual exploitation of a child, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.
Loredo is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14.
Online Relationship Led to Kentucky Teen’s Disappearance
According to a probable cause affidavit, Loredo met the 14-year-old online while playing video games. Over several months, the two exchanged romantic messages, nude photos, and videos before Loredo arranged for the teen to run away from home.
Investigators said Loredo purchased a bus ticket for the teen and covered an Uber ride from the downtown Wichita bus station to a home in the 2300 block of North Woodland. Police allege the pair had sex multiple times after the teen arrived.
When officers later tracked the missing teen’s cellphone to the residence, Loredo hid the child outside in a wooded area behind the property. Law enforcement eventually found the teen walking half a mile away from the home.
Deception and Arrest
The affidavit reveals that the teen’s parents were aware their child had been communicating online but believed Loredo was a 16-year-old girl named “Sammy.”
After the teen disappeared, the parents contacted Loredo seeking information. During a phone call, Loredo allegedly pretended to be the fictional girl’s father and lied about knowing where the child was.
Police say the two had been in contact for about three months before the runaway occurred. Loredo was arrested on November 19, 2024, and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.
Charges and Upcoming Sentencing
Prosecutors confirmed Loredo pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of criminal sodomy
- One count of indecent liberties with a child
- One count of aggravated interference with parental custody
- One count of sexual exploitation of a child
Each charge carries serious penalties under Kansas law. Loredo could face decades in prison depending on sentencing outcomes and prior criminal history.
Authorities praised law enforcement coordination between Kansas and Kentucky agencies, crediting swift digital forensics and cross-state communication for locating the runaway safely.
This disturbing case underscores the dangers of online exploitation and the importance of monitoring minors’ digital interactions. For ongoing coverage of crime and community safety updates across the Midwest, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.