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SANDY — A registered sex offender recently charged with inappropriate sexual behavior with a 17-year-old boy is now facing another criminal charge after police say they identified a second victim.
Last week, James Eric Verde, 53, of Sandy, was charged with dealing in harmful materials to a minor, a third-degree felony, and sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor. On Monday, he was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a 17-year-old, a third-degree felony.
Police say Verde became friendly with another 17-year-old boy that he met and told him "he wanted to be really close friends, he cared about (the boy) and he would help (the boy) if needed." Between Dec. 1, 2021, and Jan. 30, 2022, Verde took the boy to his house and showed him his "massage room" while telling him, "You're going to have to do it sometime," according to charging documents.
One day, the boy agreed to let Verde give him a massage and was sexually assaulted, the charges allege.
When police served a search warrant on Verde's home, they reported finding a bedroom "converted to a massage room based on the décor and massage oils."
Monday's charge marks the second case filed against Verde in less than a week. The alleged victim in the other case is also a 17-year-old boy. Beginning in February, Verde "started being friendly with him and offering him free gasoline," and later continued providing him with other expensive gifts such as a PS5, in addition to taking him to dinner, a movie and an air show, according to charging documents.
On one occasion, investigators say Verde slapped the boy's butt. He also sent the boy inappropriate pictures and text messages stating he wanted to take a trip with the boy alone, the charges state. When interviewed by police, the boy said "he was aware of two other teenage males the defendant has befriended and purchased gifts for."
Verde is on the Utah Sex Offender and Kidnap Registry. He was first convicted in 2008 of sexual abuse of a child. Court documents from his prior conviction paint a picture of Verde grooming the 12-year-old victim for several years.
