WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- A man has received a life sentence for kidnapping a girl from Illinois and bringing her to Kansas, where he sexually assaulted her. Martin Brandon Gillen, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, previously pleaded guilty in federal court to the following: One count of kidnapping T wo counts of sexual exploitation of a minor One count of transportation for criminal sexual activity One count of transportation of child pornography One count of possession of child pornography The U.S. Attorney's Office says it began in 2021 when Gillen started talking online with his victim, who was 17, and convinced her to take sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. Over the next three years, Gillen repeatedly made violent threats against her, and threats of using the images and videos against her. In March 2024, Gillen traveled from Arizona to the girl's home in Illinois, kidnapping the young woman and taking her across state lines through Missouri and into Kansas, sexually assaulting her several times in the process. Butler County sting nabs 6 men for soliciting minors On March 18, Iola police spotted Gillen and the victim and took Gillen into custody. Police also found a firearm, multiple magazines, zip ties, and a cell phone in Gillen's possession. On his cell phone, police found "hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse materials," including images of the victim. Upon further examination, agents with Homeland Security Investigations also found images of Gillen sexually abusing an unrelated 4-year-old Utah child on the phone. A federal grand jury indicted Gillen in July 2024. He eventually agreed to plead guilty in the case. A federal judge has sentenced him to life in prison, plus 95 years for crimes related to the case. The sentences will run concurrently. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Iola Police Department,The New Baden, Illinois Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. ...read more read less