Missouri Man Who Took Medfield Teen to Plead Guilty This Month

The Missouri man who allegedly took a Medfield teen in a sex trafficking-related incident agreed to plead guilty in federal court this week, according to The Boston Globe. 

Stephen Ardrey, 30, of Springfield, Missouri, agreed to plead guilty to charges of trafficking a person younger than 18 and transpiration of a minor with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to the report. 

Ardrey was taken into custody last September in connection with the search for 17-year-old Brittany Thompson of Medfield, who was reported missing for nearly three days. Ardrey allegedly persuaded Thompson to travel with him to Rhode Island knowing that she was under 18, according to the Globe. 

Police later found Thompson to be safe and unharmed in Coventry, Rhode Island after a motorist spotted her walking on the side of the road with a man. 

Ardrey, who appeared briefly in court and was formally arraigned Tuesday, faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, and is expected to plead guilty on Feb. 26 in U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island, according to the Globe.