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ST. GEORGE — A St. George man who pleaded guilty to having inappropriate sexual conversations with at least three minor girls across the country was sentenced to prison on Tuesday.
Johnathan Sperry, 25, was sentenced to a term of between one and 15 years in prison for each of three separate counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and between zero and five years in prison for each of three counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.
Fifth District Judge Jeffrey Wilcox said he finds the actions "appalling" and encouraged Sperry to make himself available to any programs at the prison that could help him deal with his sexual addictions.
Sperry's attorney, Nathan Reeve, argued that his client should be sentenced to 210 days in jail rather than prison — citing family support, a lack of prior criminal history — and said Sperry should not be punished for possible unidentified victims, something that was mentioned in the pre-sentence report. Reeve argued his client is not a danger to society, he understands that he has a problem and plans to seek help.
Wilcox said Reeve's arguments led him not to consider consecutive sentences, which he had debated prior to the sentencing, and he instead ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. However, he expressed concerns that Sperry mentioned an addiction to sex and will suggestd to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole that when Sperry is released he should not be allowed to have contact with minors and have limited internet access.
"You've got a history of this and I'm concerned about that. At some point, I have to protect society from people who do things like you did," Wilcox said.
Assistant attorney general Cynthia Poulson asked Wilcox to impose a prison sentence, emphasizing that two of the three victims they have identified were only 11 years old.
"To be talking about sex with fifth graders and immersing them in a sexualized world is dangerous to the community and to community standards and to children," she said.
Poulson said they began investigating the case after an Indiana police department got permission to look through a victim's phone while working on another case and learned she was contacting Sperry.
She said teenagers and pre-teens are looking for attention and affection, and Sperry was manipulating them and exploiting their vulnerability. She said his actions were an ongoing behavior, not a single instance.
The mothers of two of the victims spoke at the sentencing and told Sperry and Wilcox how their daughters are seeing long-term effects from his actions. One mom said her daughter is going through therapy and is now uncomfortable around people and has lost trust, in addition to having failing grades and dropping out of sports.
Reeve said his client feels sorry for the crimes, and recognizes the effects they have had. He said Sperry has been cooperative, proactive and taken responsibility.
Sperry spoke during the hearing and apologized to the victims and their families. He said he has learned a lot in jail, and now understands the extent of his crimes, whereas before he cared only about his addiction to sex and not whether what he was doing was wrong.
"I let it hurt other people, which I should never have done. It also affected myself, so I just hope that, you know, one day they can move on," he said. "I wake up every morning feeling guilty for the crimes that I have committed and I want to help in any way possible."
Sperry pleaded guilty to the six charges in August as part of a plea bargain. In exchange for his pleas, prosecutors dismissed five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second degree felony; three counts of enticing a minor, a class A misdemeanor; and two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.
