A Pennsylvania man admitted in federal court on July 11 that he came to central Ohio several times to meet up with a 13-year-old girl he met online.
Dustin Combs, 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Columbus to coercion and enticement of a minor and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
Combs faces at least 10 years in prison but could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to court records, Combs gave the girl gifts for at least 10 months, including PlayStation gift cards, an electronics purchase and money sent through Roblox.
Combs made the five-hour, 300-mile drive to central Ohio at least five times between July 2023 and April 2024 to meet with the girl and engage in sexual conduct. In one of those instances, court records say Combs recorded the sexual conduct while it took place inside a vehicle on the girl’s street and at a hotel.
A forensic search of Combs’s phone found searches for the girl’s street and the name of her elementary school. Court records say there was also a folder on the phone that had pictures and videos of the girl and Combs engaging in sexual activity.
Combs had also searched for information about the cost of an abortion, whether a minor can move out of Ohio at 16 years old, the age of consent in Texas and Mexico, as well as statutory rape and “30 year old 14 year old girl hotel room,” court records say.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@gannett.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dustin Combs admits coming to Ohio to meet teen girl he met online for sex
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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