An eastern Kentucky man has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison for engaging in sexual activity with a juvenile as they traveled across the country for a month.
Austin Hawk, 26, of London, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to 165 months in federal prison for transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
He pled guilty to the charge in November 2025.
According to his plea agreement, between September 25, 2022, and October 25, 2022, Hawk transported the minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Hawk left Laurel County with a minor victim and went on a month-long cross-country road trip, which spanned 11 states, with the pair sleeping inside Hawk’s car in parking lots.
“Hawk admitted that during the trip he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor,” prosecutors said.
Under federal law, Hawk must serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
Hawk is currently being held in the Grayson County Detention Center as he awaits his federal prison assignment.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
