[6/13/03]A former DEA agent arrested in Vicksburg nearly three weeks ago on charges of attempting to molest children has been transferred to federal authorities in Madison County.

Steven Lynn Kinney, 43, was picked up by U.S. marshals Wednesday from the Warren County Jail, where he had been since his arrest here May 25.

The Vicksburg Police Department has accused the Bastrop, La., suspect of three counts of attempting to sexually molest children at Wal-Mart SuperCenter.

When he was arrested, Kinney was awaiting sentencing after being convicted of federal charges of coercion and enticement. He had pleaded guilty in February in Las Vegas to charges that he attempted to pay for sex from boys he met at stores in Nevada.

Vicksburg Lt. Billy Brown said it is too early to tell what will happen in the local case against Kinney.

Nancy Koppe, assistant U.S. attorney for the district in Nevada, said the Vicksburg case likely will be acted on after Kinney is sentenced in Nevada. He also faces state charges in Nevada, she said.

In Vicksburg, Kinney is charged with three counts of attempted molestation and possession of counterfeit money.

A plea Vicksburg police made to parents to help police identify more children in a videotape at Wal-Mart has provided no additional information, Brown said.

“We have no new evidence for additional charges,” he said, but charges will not be dropped.

Kinney, who was transferred to the Madison County Detention Center, is accused of writing illicit notes to children for sex, police have said.

Until last year, Kinney was a field narcotics agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.