The trial for a Kennewick man accused of meeting preteen girls through a dating site and offering them money and alcohol in exchange for sex has been postponed to Sept. 28.
Jeremy L. Kimball, 29, is charged in Benton County Superior Court with two counts each of commercial sex abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor, both felonies.
He has pleaded innocent to the allegations and previously posted bond on $75,000 bail.
On Wednesday, his conditions of release were amended so he can travel outside of Benton and Franklin counties for work purposes. Documents do not show what kind of work he does. He cannot leave Washington state.
Kimball was arrested last month after two alleged victims came forward with stories of either being paid or being offered cash and alcohol for sexual contact.
According to court documents, Kimball met one girl in early June through the dating site’s mobile application and they began texting each other. The girl said he was very “pushy” and wanted nude photographs of her to make sure she was “legit,” so she complied.
Kimball offered her $60 if she would perform oral sex and they arranged a meeting one night, documents said. He picked the girl up and drove her to his house, where he allegedly changed the offer to $120 for sex, but she refused.
The girl reportedly reminded Kimball she was still in high school and that she had to sneak out of her parents’ home to see him.
At some point, the girl said she wanted to go home but Kimball said he wasn’t done and forced her to have sex, court documents said. While driving her home, he grabbed alcohol from a convenience store and gave it to the girl, along with $70, documents said.
Kimball allegedly asked the girl to do it again later that week but she turned him down. The girl then told a friend about it and that girl contacted Kimball.
Kimball and the second girl then communicated through text messages and he offered her $85 and alcohol, but first said she had to send him nude photos, court documents said. The girl initially told him she was 16.
The two planned to meet after school but, when the girl backed out, Kimball allegedly sent a message threatening to distribute the explicit pictures if she didn’t have sex with him.
The girl then admitted she was a preteen, and Kimball upped his offer to $150, documents said.
The girl got scared and decided to go to her mother, who called police.
Kimball first denied engaging in any sex acts with an underage girl, then told detectives he gave one girl $50 and beer, court documents said. He claimed he believed the first girl was 16, and said they had consensual sex, documents said.
Kimball also allegedly admitted asking the girl if she had a friend, and said he was willing to pay her once he learned her real age but that nothing would have happened.
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