Bryan Nevin, a 22-year-old from Edinburgh, has been detained in the United States after allegedly flying 4,000 miles to target a child he met online. He was arrested in Chillicothe, Missouri, after being found hiding in bushes outside the child's home, despite police warnings to stay away.
Details of the Allegations
According to court documents, Nevin had been targeting the juvenile victim for more than eight months using platforms such as Xbox, Snapchat, TikTok, and other social media. He allegedly threatened to distribute explicit images of the victim and also threatened to kill the mother.
On July 12, detectives say Nevin was discovered hiding in bushes outside the family's rural home in Chillicothe. He then approached the child's father and handed him a note asking the family to contact him.
Police Involvement and Arrest
Nevin is accused of buying a plane ticket to Missouri after police had already instructed him to cease contact with the family. The child reportedly received TikTok messages indicating Nevin was outside the home. Nevin also posted a Snapchat story from a nearby park, suggesting he was about two miles from the house.
In a police interview, Nevin told detectives he went to Missouri to 'clear his name.' According to an affidavit, he admitted going to the family's home without an invitation, sending threatening messages, and agreed that his actions would worry a reasonable person. The affidavit also claims Nevin possessed a nude image of the child.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children task force will conduct a separate investigation into allegations involving child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors requested an arrest warrant rather than a criminal summons, arguing that Nevin is a UK citizen with no ties to Missouri and poses a risk to the family.
Nevin is charged with first-degree harassment and first-degree stalking. He is due back in court later this month.
