Men Arrested for Arranging to Meet Teens for Sex

Men Arrested for Arranging to Meet Teens for Sex


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Sandra Yi ReportingTwo men are in jail, accused of arranging a meeting with teenage girls for sex they met in Internet chatrooms.

It only took minutes for someone to strike up a chat with agents from the "Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce".

Ken Wallentine, Chief of Law Enforcement, Utah AG's Office: "Please be aware that Utah is not Happy Valley. We have Internet predators."

Men Arrested for Arranging to Meet Teens for Sex

Authorities say Michale Sabo didn't waste any time.

Ken Wallentine: "One of his top priorities was finding a very young girl for a sexual relationship."

Sabo moved to Utah from Texas three weeks ago and immediately started chatting online with, who he thought, was a young teenage girl.

Ken Wallentine: "He asked that he be able to meet her on Friday night, and we accommodated his request."

Sabo wasn't the only man agents arrested that night. Marc Wilkinson had traveled to Salt Lake from St. George to meet a 13-year old girl he met online.

One of Wilkinson's user profiles says he's a returned missionary from Brazil. Agents say he was going to be in Salt Lake for the LDS General Conference and a missionary reunion.

Men Arrested for Arranging to Meet Teens for Sex

Ken Wallentine: "He was very definite, very elaborate and very detailed in exactly what he was seeking."

Wilkinson didn't know the girl was really an undercover agent. He had recently bought lingerie for the girl. He also had a stuffed teddy bear.

Ken Wallentine: "He was clearly prepared for a sexual activity that night."

Authorities say, per capita, Utah has more kids with computers in their homes than any other state. The ICAC Taskforce is active and leads the nation in arrests. Still, there are many teens who have been victims of this Internet crime.

Ken Wallentine: "Unfortunately, we've made a dent in a very large ocean with a lot of sexual predatory piranhas swimming in it. There is many many more. We do not lack for work."

He has this message, for parents.

Ken Wallentine: "Parents, know where your kids are at, know where they're at on the information superhighway, so they're not on the information super sewer."

Both men are in the Salt Lake County Jail, charged with felony enticing a minor over the Internet.

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