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Editor's note: The defendant in this case was charged with attempted rape of a child, a first-degree felony, and enticing a minor, a second-degree felony. He pleaded guilty to enticing a minor in March 2024 as part of a plea deal and the other charge was dropped. He was sentenced to 105 days in jail and four years of probation.
PROVO — A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday and accused of making arrangements to meet with and conduct sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl, police said.
A Provo police detective, posing as a 13-year-old girl as part of an undercover investigation, chatted on Facebook with Italo Manuel Escalante, 55, according to a police booking affidavit.
Escalante, using the name Tyler EC, first chatted online with the detective June 3, when he asked the "girl" if she wanted to meet up to have sex, the affidavit states. On June 21, Escalante allegedly messaged the "girl" again with plans to meet July 4 at Provo's Bicentennial Park, 1400 E. 1440 South.
Escalante told the "girl" he was in a black SUV, police said, and a black Mitsubishi Outlander was seen circling the park's parking lot early Tuesday. Officers approached the vehicle and reported finding Escalante in the driver's seat. An officer then sent a message to the Facebook user Tyler EC, and the message appeared on Escalante's phone, which was on the floor by his feet, the affidavit alleges.
The "girl" had also asked Escalante to get her chicken nuggets from McDonald's, and a four-piece chicken nuggets order was found in a McDonald's bag on the passenger seat, police said.
Escalante was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of enticing a minor by internet or text.
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Gabrielle Shiozawa
