Michigan man gets 40 years in federal prison for Arkansas child sex offense

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A registered sex offender from Michigan who traveled to Arkansas to sexually accost a child was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Thursday.

A jury found 33-year-old Jeremy Robert Ward guilty in a January trial of one count of interstate travel with the purpose of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity with a minor, six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of travel with the purpose to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor.

According to federal prosecutors, Ward met the 12-year-old victim online in September 2022 when he added her to his Snapchat account. He exchanged messages with her for about three weeks before traveling to Arkansas from his home in Marine City, Michigan, to meet.

On Oct. 15, 2022, he met the child face-to-face in her neighborhood when he drove his car up to her while she was riding her bike. During her encounter with Ward, the victim was able to record a part of the exchange.

Prosecutors said Ward can be heard stating, “I was hoping to take you home,” and that the victim must “think I’m gonna’ kidnap you or something,” to which the victim said, “You probably are about to at this point.”

Officials said Ward then asked if the victim knew of any “private spots” in order to find a more secluded place.

Around the same time, the victim’s father used an app on the child’s phone and noticed she was outside the area where she was allowed.

The parents told investigators then went to her location and found their daughter on the ground with Ward, whose pants were around his ankles. Ward then ran into the woods.

Federal prosecutors stated that the victim testified at trial that while she was in the field with Ward, he attempted to commit sexual acts with her. Investigators subsequently found messages on Ward’s phone from the victim, including video and still images of her nude.

In addition to his 40-year sentence, Ward was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.

Ward was previously convicted in 2013 in Michigan of three counts of possession of child sexual abusive material and one count of accosting a child for an immoral purpose.

The investigation was conducted by the Bryant Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Amanda Fields.