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ST. GEORGE — A LaVerkin man was sentenced Tuesday on charges filed after he attempted to blackmail a 17-year-old by threatening to post nude images and videos of the girl on the internet – behavior the prosecutor described as "reprehensible."
During a hearing held Tuesday in 5th District Court, 27-year-old Marquez Jessup was sentenced on two third-degree felony charges, including one count each of sexual extortion sexual solicitation of a child, as well as one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- 17-year-old and indecent liberties, a misdemeanor. Jessup pleaded guilty to the charges during a hearing held Jan. 26, and under the terms of the plea agreement, three second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea.
The case stems from an arrest in September following an investigation that was set in motion when the LaVerkin Police Department's investigations division was notified by the FBI task force about a tip they had received regarding an offense that took place when the teen was 17-years-old.
During the investigation, it was found that the teen was solicited by Jessup to send nude photographs of herself in exchange for money, and the suspect later solicited the teen for sex, an act for which Jessop gave the girl additional money, according to the probable cause statement filed in support of Jessup's arrest. The suspect continued to solicit images and sex from the girl, even after she told him she no longer wanted any contact with him.
Read the full article on St. George News.
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