Federal Agents Arrest Man in Child Sex Case

A Palm Springs man has been arrested on a federal indictment in connection with the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old Oregon boy he met on the Internet, authorities said.

Britton Wayne Pitts, 39, has already been convicted on state charges in the case and served 18 months. He was released in July and was arrested again Friday by immigration agents on the federal charges.

He is charged with using the Internet to coerce a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. If convicted, Pitts would face five to 60 years in prison.

Pitts allegedly arranged in May 2003 for the boy to come to Palm Springs, where the former casino security guard had sex with him. He pleaded guilty to state charges of sodomy and oral copulation with a person under 16 and was sentenced to probation and time served, but he violated terms of his probation by using the Internet to contact the boy again. He served 18 months for the probation violation.