Summary

Former FAA air traffic controller Shawn Patrick Barnett was sentenced in Dakota County District Court, Hastings, MN to jail-time, probation, and electronic home monitoring for internet solicitation of a minor. In addition, Barnett is to have no unsupervised contact with a minor; he must register as a sex offender and submit to a DNA sample; submit to random chemical/substance testing; and complete a sex offender treatment program. In April 2004, Barnett admitted to using his personal laptop computer during breaks at his workplace in the Farmington, Minnesota Enroute Air Traffic Control Center to solicit sex online with someone posing as a 13-year old female. Barnett’s employment with the FAA was terminated in June 2004. The case was jointly investigated with the Farmington Police Department, and the ‘Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children’ (MICAC), with assistance from FAA.