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BOISE — A Tremonton man was sentenced to federal prison in Idaho Monday for engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old Idaho girl.
The man is also accused of being a "serial sex offender" who allegedly also had sexual encounters with three other girls in Utah under the age of 16.
Bo B. Burdick, 21, was sentenced to eight years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of probation, for traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge also ordered Burdick to pay more than $21,000 in restitution.
Burdick pleaded guilty to the charge in August.
Burdick requested to become friends with the girl over Facebook sometime in February 2011. According to prosecutors, the girl learned that Burdick was a volunteer firefighter living in Utah and the two began to chat via text messages.
Burdick sent the girl a nude photo early on and asked her to do the same. The Idaho State Police Cyber Crimes Unit eventually recovered text messages and emails sent by both Burdick and the girl.
Prosecutors said they felt the prison sentence Burdick received in Idaho sent a strong message to those who would seek to sexually exploit children.
"The messages clearly show that the girl told Burdick she was 13 years old," prosecutors said in a prepared statement. "They also show Burdick giving the girl instructions about the kinds of pictures he wanted her to send."
Prosecutors say Burdick traveled from Utah to Idaho to see the girl four separate times in 2011 and would rent hotel rooms where they engaged in sexual intercourse.
During their investigation, agents also found additional victims and Burdick allegedly admitted that when he was between 17 and 20 years old, he had sexual encounters with 11 women in Utah that he had met online.
"Burdick told investigators four of the females were under the age of 16, including the Idaho victim," according to prosecutors. "Burdick admitted that when he was age 19, he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female in Utah and fathered a child with her."
A search of Utah court records showed that Burdick is facing a single count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony, in 1st District Court.
Prosecutors said they felt the prison sentence Burdick received in Idaho sent a strong message to those who would seek to sexually exploit children. It also pointed to the important role of parents in monitoring their child's online activity.
“This case illustrates the importance of parental involvement in a child's digital life,” said Brad Bench, a special agent in Homeland Security Investigations. “If not for the intervention of the girl's parents who discovered and reported the illicit activity, Burdick could be free to victimize others.”
