A Kansas City man, Marshall Mayes, 20, was charged with several sex crimes in connection to an illegal relationship with a minor in Warren County in 2024. 

According to the probable cause statement filed by Warren County Sheriff’s Detective Dean Jackson, the investigation started in July 2024 when investigators were told about a possible sex offense that occurred in May 2024. 

The victim was under the age of 15 at the time of her contact with Mayes and told investigators she entered into a relationship with him in March 2024. 

According to the probable cause statement on May 25, 2024, Mayes drove from Iowa to have intercourse with the victim. It also stated he had sent her money with the expectation of a “reward which was sexual in nature,” according to the probable cause statement. 

The victim and Mayes had exchanged nude photographs of each other, one of which was located on the victim’s phone. 

According to the probable cause statement, Mayes states he knows the victim’s age and advises her to lie to others and say she is 17 if asked. 

Mayes also lied to two witnesses and his mother saying the victim was 17. 

The probable cause statement also states Mayes told the victim to delete all photographs on her phone. 

Mayes was charged with sexual exploitation of a child, second-degree sex trafficking of a child, a first offense of possession of child pornography, a second subsequent offense of possession of child pornography, fourth-degree child molestation, money laundering or attempted money laundering and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution. 

All charges are felonies. 

A warrant was issued for his arrest on April 28 and he is to be held without bond.