Indiana man charged in Racine County internet sex sting

Ray Hollnagel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Richard Barney

An Indiana man is in the Racine County Jail on allegations he traveled to Wisconsin to have sex with underage girls.

Richard A. Barney, 56, of St. John, Ind., was arrested by the Racine County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit on Wednesday after driving about 109 miles to have sex with an 11-year-old and a 15-year-old, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.

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For the past several weeks, Barney had been communicating with an undercover investigator posing as a mother willing to sell her daughters for sex, the news release said. During this time, Barney sent pornographic photos, a picture of his face and his cellphone number, the release said.

Barney faces charges of possession of child pornography, attempted sexual assault of a child and use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime.