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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A Cottonwood Heights man who allegedly engaged in "dark fantasy chats" about raping and murdering young boys is facing multiple charges.
Jonathan Lowell Nelson, 47, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony; and four counts of exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
In August, Nelson engaged in an online chat with a man in Brooklyn, New York, and "chatted with the male about raping and murdering young boys," according to charging documents.
The New York man became concerned and contacted law enforcement. An FBI agent resumed the conversation with Nelson while posing as the man, the charges state. Nelson then sent the undercover agent "explicit" child pornography pictures and videos of young boys.
"Nelson stated in one of the chats that he keeps items such as hats, clothing articles, backpacks and scooters from his victims," according to the charges.
When Utah authorities confronted Nelson and questioned him, he allegedly "admitted to having 'dark fantasy chats' including one in which he stated that he solicited the help of (a relative) to lure a 15-year-old boy in and then he raped and murdered the boy. Another chat included (a fantasy of) the rape and murder of 293 young foster boys in Park City. Nelson admitted to fantasizing about pre-pubescent boys," the charge state.
Charging documents do not mention any evidence found that shows any boys were killed. Prosecutors have requested that Nelson be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending trial.
