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Whit Johnson ReportingAuthorities call him a dangerous sex offender and an online predator, now 45-year-old Mark Anthony Turner is behind bars, but investigators need more victims to come forward to keep him there.
Mark Turner's detention hearing is wrapping up behind those walls this afternoon; he's looking at up to 30 years jail.
An undercover task force led by the Utah Attorney General's office arrested Turner at a Sandy gas station last week. They say they're extremely concerned with his sexually aggressive behavior. Turner is charged with attempting to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity with him. That minor was an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.
Chief Ken Wallentine, Utah Attorney General's Office: "It was very clear from the evidence that we've gathered so far that he intended to take this 13-year-old girl out of state, and she would not be seen again by her family."
According to charging documents, during phone conversations between Turner and the undercover agent, Turner said, "sometimes I want to come steal you". And she would have to change her hair and could not see her family until she was 18-years-old.
Turner was living in Twin Falls, Idaho and authorities believe he traveled to Utah on numerous occasions to have sex with minors. The Utah Attorney General's Office also believes Turner may have more victims in Utah and they're asking them to come forward and call 801-281-1200, so they can put this guy away for a long time.
