Man indicted on federal charge for allegedly enticing girl over the internet
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IDAHO FALLS — A Blackfoot man is facing a federal felony charge for enticing a minor over the internet.
Andrew Ray Young, 33, received the federal indictment for felony coercion and enticement on April 14. While charging documents do not provide specific details on the charges, they likely stem from an alleged relationship Young had with a 14-year-old girl over Snapchat.
Initially, Young was charged in Bonneville County with five felony counts of possession of sexually exploitive material of a child and felony delivery of a controlled substance. With the federal grand jury indictment, prosecutors dropped the local charges.
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If convicted of the felony federal charge, Young could be ordered to spend 10 years to life in federal prison.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Young in December when the victim’s mother found nude photographs allegedly being exchanged over Snapchat. According to a local affidavit of probable cause, the victim said she and Young had communicated for over a year on Snapchat in which they exchanged the nude photos.
At one point, the victim said Young even drove from his home in Blackfoot to the victim’s in Idaho Falls to bring her marijuana and meet up in person. The victim said she was too scared to meet Young in person and had him leave the weed and drug paraphernalia at the end of her street.
The victim said she smoked the marijuana. When her mother found out, she allegedly confronted him over Facebook, to which Young reportedly responded he was helping the victim and that “cannabis is medical.”
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched Young’s house on Dec. 17, 2020. On his electronic devices, investigators found 38 nude photos of the victim saved in a gallery. Evidence confirmed Young had allegedly been communicating with the victim, according to court documents.
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At the time of the new charges, Young was on four years of probation for shooting a woman who intended to kill him in 2019. District Judge Simpson had placed him on probation after Young pleaded guilty to felony unlawful discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle.
In that incident, Isabelle Jolly entered Young’s home with a loaded handgun wanting to kill him and herself. When Jolly pointed the gun at Young while he was on the couch, she pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire and Young hit it out of Jolley’s hands before she ran outside. Young then picked up the gun himself, followed Jolley and fired several times as she drove away. A bullet hit Jolley in the leg.
Young is expected to appear for hearings on May 10 and 13 since the new charges could be considered a violation of probation.
The federal court docket does not show any upcoming court dates on the new charge.
Although Young is charged with a crime, it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Young remains held in the Bingham County Jail.