He was actually meeting with an undercover FBI employee who had been tracking Armitage’s activity under the user name “CletusTheYokel” on an alleged sex trafficking website.
“Just prior to 11 a.m. (Armitage) arrived at Winstead’s and sat down next to the FBI covert employee,” the court documents state.
“ Armitage showed the employee a quantity of U.S currency and a condom that he brought with him. Armitage spoke to the (undercover FBI employee) about the amount he wished to spend with Crystal, and they agreed on a quick visit in exchange for approximately $100,” the court documents state.
Armitage was then arrested, and according to the FBI, admitted to using the website under the user name.
He also admitted to sending text messages to an individual he knew as Crystal and traveling to Kansas City from Lawrence, Kansas, to meet her for sex, according to the court records.
Armitage was a “senior member” of the alleged sex trafficking website with 576 postings, according to court documents.
“These postings detail his prior experiences with prostitutes in Ohio, Arizona, Tijuana, Kansas and Colorado,” the court documents state.
Armitage responded to a posting from an FBI undercover employee about a “young spinner” stating, “Young spinner is what I live for. Id love the number and will treat her right….” according to court documents.
That is when Armitage was provided with a phone number for a different FBI employee posing as the 14-year-old girl Crystal.
UPDATE @ 2 p.m.:
Armitage earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Kansas in 2004. Previously he earned a masters degree in American studies from the school.
He was hired by Miami University in 2008, according to his LinkedIn social media page. He was also a former assistant professor of history at Miami.
In 2009, he authored the book “The Nature Study Movement: The Forgotten Popularizer of America's Conservation Ethic” published by the University Press of Kansas.
FIRST REPORT:
A former Miami University professor is facing federal criminal charges for allegedly traveling to Kansas City, Missouri to have sex with girl he thought was 14-years-old, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Kevin Armitage, 52, was charged with traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to an indictment by a federal grand jury in Kansas City Tuesday.
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Armitage was a professor of individualized studies at Miami University, according to the university. In individualized studies, students work with a faculty member to create a specific program of study that doesn’t exist in a current major.
He is no longer employed at Miami University, Claire Wagner, Miami’s director of communications, told this news outlet.
Armitage resigned last week from his job at Miami University, she said.
“Miami is appalled and shocked to learn of these allegations of illicit sexual behavior. It is especially repulsive that the allegations involve conduct that would endanger a minor,” she said.
“Under no circumstance is this type of unlawful behavior tolerated by our campus community.”
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According to the affidavit, an FBI covert employee was monitoring message threads on a website known for men and women to communicate about prostitution. Armitage indicated in the online forum he was heading to Kansas City and was looking for recommendations.
“Armitage was provided a phone number for a different FBI online covert employee, who was posing as a 14-year-old female,” according to the DOJ report.
“After several conversations, the affidavit says, Armitage agreed to meet the 14-year-old’s cousin at a restaurant on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. An FBI undercover employee, posing as the cousin, met Armitage at the restaurant and he was arrested.”
Armitage is listed as a senior member of the website, according to the affidavit, with 576 posts detailing prior experiences with prostitutes in Ohio, Arizona, Tijuana, Kansas, and Colorado.
Armitage is listed as an inmate in the Caldwell County, Missouri Jail, according to records.
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