A more serious abduction charge has been filed against the man accused of kidnapping a Virginia girl and suspected in her mother’s slaying.
Roanoke County authorities said a grand jury has indicted Jeffrey Scott Easley, 33, on a charge of abduction with intent to defile. He could face life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors sought the charge because police believed Easley intended to sexually assault Brittany Mae Smith, who was 12 years old when Easley allegedly abducted her to San Francisco in December.
An Amber Alert was issued for Brittany, now age 13, after her mother was found dead in their home and Brittany disappeared. A week later, someone in a California store recognized Brittany and Easley from news reports and called police.
Easley had originally been charged with abduction, and would have received no more than 10 years in prison if convicted of that offense, the Roanoke Times reports.
Easley has not been charged in the death of Brittany’s mother, Tina Smith, but is considered a suspect, police have said.
