Judge finds probable cause in case of Madison man accused of child exploitation
Authorities say there’s evidence a Madison man who brought a missing 14-year-old Tennesee girl to Madison, may have sexually assaulted her.
Rogers sat quietly in court in jail clothes as Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger conceded he may have initially had pure motives of helping the girl get away from danger. But Pfluger says Rogers lied to the FBI about the girl’s whereabouts and kept her in a closet of his mother’s Madison basement or in the trunk of his car.
Pfluger also says medical testing on the girl found injuries related to sexual activity not involving her father. The prosecutor says Rogers may also be charged with transporting the girl across state lines for sex.
A federal magistrate ruled there is probable cause to believe Rogers produced child pornography and decided the 31-year-old Madison man remain jailed.
Tuesday’s court appearance was attended by Rogers’ mother and other loved ones.
Bednarek says Rogers has no criminal history and is a recent college graduate with two jobs. Authorities say Rogers’s mother was unaware of the teen’s presence in her home over the two weeks she stayed there, until investigators found her and Rogers was arrested.