ST. LOUIS – Earlier this month, an underage Missouri girl was rescued in Georgia from a man now facing child sex crimes.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Carlan T. Penney Jr., 46, met an underage girl on a chat site, eventually turned the conversation toward sex, and sent her pictures of his genitals.

Penney rented a car in Georgia and drove to Missouri to pick the teen up. Her family contacted the local sheriff’s office when they realized she was missing. The sheriff’s office requested the FBI’s assistance in the investigation.

A DOJ press release did not reveal the age of the victim or the county where she lived in order to protect the privacy and identity of a sexual assault victim.

Penney was charged on March 7 with coercion and enticement of a minor and transportation of a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity.

FBI special agents learned the teen had been in contact with Penney. On March 8, investigators tracked the girl to a home in southern Georgia belonging to Penney’s family. Penney eventually surrendered to local authorities.

Prosecutors said Penney smashed the girl’s phone and another mobile device after picking her up. He used cash and wore gloves during the drive to and from Missouri. He allegedly threatened the teen in case she changed her mind and frequently raised the topic of murder, according to court documents.

A federal grand in St. Louis indicted Penney on Wednesday, March 19.