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FARMINGTON — A Utah Department of Corrections officer was arrested Monday for allegedly trying to meet up with a 13-year-old boy for sex, police say.
Ross M. Cameron, 35, of Sandy, was booked into jail for investigation of two counts of enticing a minor.
On Oct. 31, Cameron used an online persona to contact who he believed was a 13-year-old boy and "expressed his interest in meeting with (the boy) for the purposes of engaging in sexual acts," according to a Davis County Jail report.
During the conversation, Cameron mentioned he would "probably get in trouble talking to you, haha," and "I just want to make sure your (sic) not like a cop or something, haha," the report states.
The 13-year-old was actually an undercover police officer, the report states.
On Nov. 7, the undercover officer was allegedly contacted by Cameron again. Cameron asked the "boy" to "send nude images of himself to prove that (he) was not a law enforcement officer," according to the report.
On Monday, Cameron was interviewed by investigators and stated that he had conversations with someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy online and discussed meeting him in person, the report states.
Cameron has been with the Utah Department of Corrections for two years and was working as an officer at the Utah State Prison at the time of his arrest, according to Corrections spokeswoman Maria Peterson.
The department initially indicated it had sent him a letter of intent to terminate his employment. On Wednesday, however, officials said he has been placed on administrative leave. Cameron will be interviewed as part of an internal investigation, as per standard protocol, and a determination will be made regarding his employment status, Peterson said.
Email: preavy@deseretnews.com Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam
