Davis County officials charge suspect in Layton Amber Alert

LAYTON, Utah– Prosecutors in Davis County have officially filed charges against a man suspected of kidnapping a 13-year-old boy, which prompted police to send out an Amber Alert in December.

New charging documents allege Aaron Michael Zeman, 26, also known as Tadashi Kojima, had been communicating with the 13-year-old Layton boy as far back as October 1, 2022, nearly 3 months prior to the Amber Alert.

Documents claim Zemen began communicating with the boy on Roblox under the online name Hunter Fox.

Communication continued over Discord, then eventually Twitter and Telegram, where the suspect allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself.

Police issued an Amber Alert on December 26 when the boy’s parents reported him missing.

Police located Zemen and the boy at a gas station in Nebraska two days later.

At the gas station, police say they found ” Among other things, passports for both the defendant and (the victim)…and written plans for changing both individuals names, including obtaining new birth certificates,” charging documents said.

Zemen now faces felony charges of child kidnapping, enticing a minor, sexually exploitation of a minor and dealing harmful material to a minor.

Prosecutors asked the court to hold the suspect without bail.

Related reading

• UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled; 13-year-old Layton boy found safe
• Nebraska gas clerk credited with notifying police of missing Layton teen

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