Executive Summary
- Trevor Blackburn sentenced to 30 years in prison and 7.5 years extended supervision.
- Defendant pled no contest to kidnapping and three counts of 1st-degree child sexual assault.
- Case involved the abduction of a 15-year-old and triggered an AMBER Alert.
- Blackburn required to register as a sex offender for life.
A Tennessee man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday in a Chippewa County court for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a Wisconsin teenager, a case that triggered an AMBER Alert more than three years ago.
Trevor Blackburn, 26, appeared before Judge James Isaacson to receive his sentence, which includes 30 years of initial confinement followed by 7.5 years of extended supervision. According to court documents cited by prosecutors, Blackburn traveled from Tennessee to the village of Holcombe to abduct the 15-year-old victim after blackmailing and threatening her regarding pornographic images.
Law enforcement officials stated that the abduction initiated an AMBER Alert. The victim subsequently reported to investigators that Blackburn sexually assaulted her multiple times at various locations during the incident. In December, Blackburn accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to charges of kidnapping and three counts of first-degree child sexual assault.
During the sentencing hearing, remaining charges against Blackburn were dismissed but read into the record for the judge’s consideration. Judge Isaacson ruled that Blackburn must register as a sex offender for life. The court granted him credit for 1,247 days of time already served in custody.
It is important to note that the U.S. judicial system guarantees the presumption of innocence for all defendants until a guilty verdict is rendered or a plea is formally accepted by the court.
Judicial Outcome
This sentencing marks the legal conclusion of a severe cross-state criminal case involving internet exploitation and abduction. The imposition of a 30-year sentence reflects the gravity of first-degree child sexual assault and kidnapping charges, particularly when facilitated by interstate travel. The use of “read-in” charges allows the judiciary to acknowledge the full scope of the defendant’s conduct for sentencing purposes, even when specific counts are dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
