7 Feb 2019

US grand jury indicts NZer over kidnapping, pornography charges

4:05 pm on 7 February 2019

A federal grand jury in the United States has formally charged a New Zealander who was shot while trying to break into a house in Virginia.

Troy Skinner

Troy Skinner Photo: Supplied / Henrico Jail

Troy Skinner has been charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and four counts producing child pornography.

The indictment says Mr Skinner produced two videos of child pornography and two image files of child pornography on four separate dates in February and March 2018.

Police say Mr Skinner then travelled to Goochland in Virginia and tried to break into the home of a 14-year-old girl he had met online.

He was shot and injured by the girl's mother.

If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years for each of the child pornography charges, and 25 years for the kidnapping offences.

Mr Skinner is due to appear in court in Virginia in the next couple of days to enter a plea.

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