Felony Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, (5 Counts) Felony Sexual Conduct with a Minor and (1 Count) Felony Furnishing Harmful or Obscene Items to Minor Reduced to Child Abuse with Probation and 60 Days in Jail – State v. Mr. M (DMC No. 12417) (Maricopa County Superior Court CR2014-119425):
Mr. M was employed as a Detention Officer at a local prison for the Arizona Department of Corrections. He had met a young woman at the State Fair who claimed to be 17 years old almost turning 18. He started a physical relationship with her and an internet relationship with her where she would send him nude photographs at his request. The young woman turned out to be 15 years of age, which compounded difficulty in Mr. M’s case. If she had stated she was 18 years of age, but was actually 15 years of age or older, he would have had a defense to the charges. Because she had started the relationship stating she was 17, he did not have that particular defense available. However, we were able to show that he was not a threat to his own minor children. Therefore, he was allowed to have contact with his minor children while on probation, and he did not have to register as a sex offender. He was also allowed to have computer access during the course of his probation.