Fremont man pays $500 for 15-year old girl

FREMONT, Ind. (WANE) - In the tiny, quiet town of Fremont, not much happens without everyone knowing about it. But little did anyone know that one of their own was trying to buy a 15-year old girl.

"The thought that anybody here would do something like that. It just is mind-boggling," says Fremont resident Mary Jo VonEwegen.

Thursday morning, Steuben County officers arrested 55 year old Warren Stump on human trafficking charges. Police were tipped off by an informant.

"He had a person that he knew was interested in purchasing a 15 year old girl," says Detective Kevin Smith.

That informant arranged a meeting between Stump and an undercover officer, who was posing as a father who wanted to sell his daughter. Stump later told police he also is a father.

"Our undercover officer met with Mr. Stump in the Freemont area. Picked him up. Took him to another location not far away and had a fairly lengthy discussion on the sale of the child. The terms of it, and the amount involved."

Stump paid the officer $500 dollars and arranged to pick up the child later in the day. Officers pulled Stump over on his way home and took him into custody. He told police he intended to take the girl out of state and marry her.

"After a few years of doing this... nothing surprises you anymore," says Smith.

It is a surprise for the residents of Fremont, who are still trying understand Stump's actions.

"It's just beyond belief that there are people out there in the world that would do things to children like that," says VonEwegen.

Stump is currently still in the Steuben County Jail. His initial hearing happens Friday, when he'll be formally charged.

Police want to stress that at no time was an actual teenage girl confronted by Stump or in danger of actually being purchased.