Kansas City, Kansas- A judge this afternoon rejected the plea agreement of a Kansas City, Kan., man who allegedly took a girl across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activities.

At a sentencing hearing, U.S. District Chief Judge Kathryn H. Vratil [pictured] rejected the agreement that would have sent Jesse Franklin Herd III to prison for 18 years. Vratil said she was “extremely disinclined” to accept the agreement, calling the prison term insufficient given the facts of the case.

Herd, 36, then withdrew his guilty plea, and Vratil set the case for trial on June 3 in Kansas City, Kan.

Herd had pleaded guilty in November to the charge, with the understanding that prosecutors would recommend the18-year sentence.

Under the plea agreement, Herd could withdraw his plea if the sentencing recommendation was rejected.

Herd had agreed that the facts he was pleading guilty to included that the abuse started in 2004, according to court documents.

According to the plea agreement, in July 2004, Herd allegedly drove the victim, then 14 years old, around looking for men who wanted to have sex with her. Herd allegedly checked into a Kansas City hotel with the girl and videotaped three men having sex with her. The victim also reported that Herd allegedly took her to Erotic City, where he arranged for men to have sex with her downstairs.

The guilty plea drew the attention of the Jackson County Legislature, which passed an ordinance late last month placing new restrictions on adult entertainment businesses in unincorporated Jackson County, including Erotic City, at 8401 E. Truman Road.

The victim was prepared to read a statement during the sentencing hearing, but she left in tears when Herd was brought into the courtroom. Members of the Kansas City chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse followed her into the hallway to offer their support.

She re-entered the courtroom a short time later. Her statement, however, was read by a victim advocate from the FBI.

Vratil’s action surprised members of the support group.

“This is the first case I’ve been through where I saw a judge reject a plea bargain,” said Karl Jensen, a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse.

He said the victim is terrified of having to go to court again, but she has a good support group and she is determined to do what she has to do.