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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A federal appeals court has upheld the use of an undercover agent posing as a young girl in a Salt Lake City man's Internet sex conviction.
Jonathan Munro had argued that his offense was really nonviolent because he had no actual contact with a young girl -- just a male agent posing in a chat room as one.
The then-21-year-old was arrested in 2003 when he showed up at an elementary school parking lot to meet what he thought was the 13-year-old girl.
Because he was carrying a gun, Munro was also charged with use of a firearm in a violent crime. Munro argued to the appeals court that the gun was for protection.
The Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the risk of attempted sexual abuse was enough to make it a violent crime. It also determined it was reasonable to conclude Munro brought the gun in case the girl refused his advances.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
