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JASPER, Ala. (WIAT) — Authorities have arrested a man from South Korea, charging him with the rape and sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl he reportedly met online in Walker County.
The suspect, 24-year-old Hyeonsoo Ko, was taken into custody last Wednesday, facing multiple charges related to sex crimes involving a minor, which allegedly occurred in August. At the time of his arrest, Ko was residing in downtown Birmingham.
Based on court documents, Ko is said to have connected with the young girl via Snapchat last year. In August, he allegedly traveled from Birmingham to Jasper to engage in sexual activities with the minor. Investigators report that the girl met Ko in his vehicle, where he had brought a weed pen and several cans of Twisted Tea, an alcoholic iced tea, reportedly with the intention of engaging in sexual acts.
Records from the court suggest that Ko had sexual encounters with the victim on at least two separate occasions.
Ko now faces the following charges:
- 3x of traveling to meet a child for sex,
- 1x of enticing a child to enter
- 2x of second-degree rape
- 2x of second-degree sodeomy
- 2x of second-degree sexual abuse
Ko is being held at the Walker County Jail on $250,000 bond.