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SALT LAKE CITY — The half brother of Governor Gary Herbert was arrested Tuesday for allegedly enticing a minor online, according to police.
Paul Gordon Peters, 56, was attempting to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl, according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Cannon said Peters was chatting with a police detective posing as a 13-year-old girl.
During the internet chats, Peters claimed he had engaged in sex acts with other underage girls and suggested that the "girl" should "hook him up" with her mother so he could spend more time with her, a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court states. He also allegedly sent photos of male genitalia to the person he thought was a teenage girl.
According to Cannon, Peters arranged to meet the girl in Provo. When Peters arrived to the location, he was taken into custody.
Peters was booked into the Utah County Jail Wednesday for investigation of enticing, soliciting, seducing or luring a minor by internet or text, and three counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor.
Peters' bail is set at $25,000, Cannon said.
A statement from Herbert’s spokesperson, John Cox, reads, “Regardless of who is being accused, the governor finds these charges to be horrific. The governor’s parents divorced at a young age and the two were raised in different households.”
No criminal charges have been filed against Peters.
Contributing: Marjorie Cortez
