An Oregon man is now in federal custody and facing a federal criminal complaint for allegedly transporting a Utah minor across state lines after meeting her online in May 2025, according to court documents filed in the District of Utah and released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, of Huntington, Oregon, was charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Federal authorities stated that Harmel drove to Utah to pick up the victim and brought her back to his Oregon residence, where law enforcement ultimately recovered her on November 1.
Federal Agents Locate Missing Victim Groomed Online
The case began to unfold in the late summer of 2025. On August 20, the FBI Salt Lake City field office received information that the minor victim had disappeared in May of that year. Investigators subsequently learned that the victim had allegedly been groomed on gaming platforms commonly utilized by Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups to solicit sexually explicit and maiming photos, before the communication transitioned to other social media applications.
On November 1, federal agents received a tip regarding the victim’s possible location and her connection to Harmel, whom she had met online in May 2025. Court documents allege that during the time the minor was kept at Harmel’s residence, he kept a knife under his pillow to prevent her from escaping.
The Oregon State Police and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force assisted the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office in the operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jawayria Z. Auchter for the District of Utah and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
Official Responses
“Anyone engaged in the sexual exploitation of a minor will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Today’s arrest is the first step toward bringing the accused to justice and relieving the pain endured by the victim and her family. This Department of Justice will never stop investigating and prosecuting individuals engaged in vicious predatory behavior.”
“This individual is charged with transporting a minor to another state to engage in criminal sexual activity, a minor who was missing for a year and a half until Oregon police recovered her based on information provided by the FBI,” Patel said. “According to the criminal complaint the minor was groomed on gaming platforms and engaged in acts of self-harm and sexually explicit activity. To anyone targeting and exploiting children: this FBI and our partners are coming for you.”
“Our priority in this case was the safe return of the minor victim,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “Those who allegedly exploit and prey upon the most vulnerable members of our communities will be relentlessly investigated and held accountable.”
Harmel Faces Federal Charges in Utah Court
Harmel was formally charged in a federal complaint on November 2 in the District of Utah. He made his initial appearance on the charge on November 4 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
