Carnival worker takes plea deal in Nebraska State Fair teen enticement case

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A carnival worker who was working at the Nebraska State Fair last year charged with enticing who he thought was a teen has taken a plea deal.

According to Hall County District Court records, Todd Brown, 46, pleaded no contest to enticement by electronic device. In exchange for his plea, the charge was reduced from child enticement by electronic device.

According to an arrest affidavit, on Aug. 19, 2025 Brown began messaging a Nebraska State Patrol investigator posing online as a 14-year-old child. The investigator said Brown told him he was working at the Nebraska State Fair and told them to meet him there.

The affidavit said Brown continued to message the minor, with the conversations becoming sexual in nature. Court records said Brown offered to rent a hotel room and urged the minor not to tell their parents about their communications.

The affidavit said on Thursday, Brown told the minor to meet him after his shift working a game booth at the carnival at the Nebraska State Fair. The investigator said he located Brown at the fair using his cell phone.

Brown is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 8.