SURGOINSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A convicted sex offender accused of luring a 14-year-old East Tennessee girl away from home has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and other charges in federal court.
Media reports said that 42-year-old Benjamin Shook entered the plea Tuesday in Greenville.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for the teen on June 23, 2015, saying she had left her Surgoinsville home and was later spotted with Shook, who had an active warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. Shook and the girl were taken into custody about two weeks later in southern Virginia.
According to the indictment, Shook had previous convictions out of Habersham County and Banks County, Georgia on charges of child molestation and child exploitation. He served 10 years behind bars following his conviction in 2004.
Sentencing was set for October 4. Shook faces 20 years to life in prison.
AccessWDUN Staff contributed to this report.
