A 37-year-old St. Louis man who faces aggravated kidnapping, multiple sex abuse and assault, as well as aggravated battery charges pleaded guilty in Marion County Court Wednesday to a related obstructing justice charge.
Courtney Buffkins faces the charges in connection with alleged sexual acts with the juvenile girl that extended from February or March 2020 until November 2021 when he was arrested when found in a Salem motel room with the girl.
Buffkins entered a plea to a misdemeanor count of obstructing justice for initially giving Salem Police a false name as they were investigating activity in the motel room. He was sentenced to 364 days in the Marion County Jail with credit for time already served. As part of the plea, the felony obstructing justice charge was dropped.
After the plea, Judge Mark Stedelin reset the jury trial on the remainder of the charges for August 15th, with the next pre-trial scheduled for July 18th.
Buffkins is charged with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for allegedly engaging in sex acts with the juvenile on five visits from Salem. The Class X kidnapping charge claims Buffkins in February or March of 2020 by use of force or threat of force moved the juvenile to a location with the intent to secretly confine her against her will and committing aggravated criminal sexual abuse. charges of aggravated battery by ingestion of a toxic substance and aggravated criminal sexual assault with the use of a controlled substance were later filed when lab tests indicated Buffkins had allegedly made the girl drink a liquid that contained methamphetamine.
Buffkins remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bond.
