Exeter man pleads guilty to sexual conduct with teen

By: News Staff

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PROVIDENCE, R.I (WLNE) – An Exeter man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday on one count of engaging in sexual activity with a Connecticut minor.

Nicholas Murphy, 27, admitted to traveling across state lines to meet with the young teenager.

“The victim told Murphy that she was 16 years old when, in fact, she was younger than 16, but older than 13. In May and June 2015, Murphy travelled from Rhode Island to Connecticut to meet the victim,” said a release issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

The two communicated over social platforms including Facebook.

“On the evening of September 16, 2015, after communicating on Facebook, Murphy drove from Rhode Island to Connecticut to meet the victim. Murphy knew that the victim was sneaking out of her home without her parents’ knowledge to meet him. Murphy picked up the victim in his truck and then drove to a secluded area where he and the victim engaged in illicit sexual conduct,” the document noted.

Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2017, facing a maximum term of 30 years in prison.

Arrested on related state charges in May of 2016, Murphy is released on a $150,000 bond.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017