Booking photo for Braxton Cole Martin. (Photo: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A 21-year-old Logan man who admitted to trying to meet up for sex with an undercover police officer, posing as 13-year-old girl, is going to jail. Braxton C. Martin waived goodbye to his family, as deputies led him out of a courtroom to begin serving 90 days behind bars.
Martin was sentenced Monday afternoon in 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of attempting to entice a minor by internet or text, a third-degree felony.
On December 29, Martin began messaging with the undercover Logan City Police officer. At first, he identified himself as a 16-year-old from North Logan. He then started a sexually charged conversation, asking the officer about past sexual experiences and explaining some of his.
The defendant later gave the officer a phone number and began texting. The number was traced to Martin’s residence. A meeting was arranged at a Logan park, where police officers were waiting when he arrived.
Martin spoke briefly during Monday’s sentencing, calling his actions “deplorable.” He explained how he was exposed to pornography at the age of 8, and it continued to escalate until he was arrested.
Defense attorney Lindsay Jarvis asked the court to spare her client any jail time. She said Martin’s future educational pursuits had been derailed but that he was taking steps to change his life.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Ronnie Keller disagreed with Jarvis. He said “there is a community expectation that adults will not try to entice minors.”
Judge Spencer Walsh told Martin that if he had really met up and had sex with a 13-year-old girl, he would be facing a prison sentence of at least 25 years. He ordered him to be placed on probation after serving three months in jail. He also prohibited him from having any contact with minors or access to the internet.
“Even though this case doesn’t define your life,” said Judge Walsh, “it has impacted it greatly. I believe that you can move forward in positive ways.”
will@cvradio.com