CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Ohio man accused of impersonating a missing Illinois child was back in federal court today.
23-year-old Brian Rini entered a plea of not guilty to new charges of making false statements and aggravated identity theft
Rini is accused of impersonating Timmothy Pitzen who was 6-years-old when he disappeared in 2011.
Rini told investigators that he ran across an Ohio bridge to escape kidnappers who sexually abused him.
DNA testing established he was actually a convicted felon just released from prison.
Rini says he came up with the ruse to get away from his family.
He remains in federal custody.
His latest mug shot reveals a beard that he did not have when he allegedly tried to pass himself off as Pitzen, a child who has been missing from Aurora, Illinois, since 2011.
Rini was previously charged with one count of making false statements.
Friday, a federal magistrate ordered for him to be detained pending trial.
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