LOGAN — A 22-year-old Magna man has been arrested for driving to Cache Valley to allegedly have sex with a 9-year-old girl, according to law enforcement. Jesus Garcia was booked Wednesday, Feb. 7, into the Cache County Jail following a sting operation in Logan.
According to an arrest affidavit, Garcia allegedly began communicating in January with a Logan City Police officer. The officer was posing as a father of a 9-year-old girl.
Garcia messaged the undercover officer, allegedly expressing a desire to rape the young girl. The messages included graphic depictions of what the suspect wanted to do.
This week, Garcia made arrangements to drive to Logan to allegedly carry out his plans with the officer and the supposed little girl. Police gave the suspect an address to meet at and asked for him to bring a gift for the child.
On Wednesday at the designated time, a man pulled up to the undercover officer’s vehicle and introduced himself as Garcia. The officer asked the man if he wanted to follow him to his home where the girl was waiting and Garcia said “yes,” the affidavit detailed.
Nearby officers then surrounded the vehicle and took Garcia into custody. They later searched the car and found a pink stuffed animal in the trunk. A receipt showed it was purchased the day before.
During questioning, Garcia admitted to chatting with the undercover officer and driving to Logan to engage in sexual activities with the 9-year-old girl. He also said he bought the stuffed animal as a gift for the child.
Garcia also acknowledged to chatting with other underage minors in the past year and receiving naked photographs from a 16 or 17-year-old girl. A search of his phone later uncovered several images of child pornography.
Garcia was arraigned Friday, Feb. 9, during a virtual hearing in Logan’s 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail. He was charged with two counts of attempted sodomy on a child, a first-degree felony; and two counts of enticing a minor by internet or text, a second-degree felony.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Aaron Jossie asked the court to hold Garcia in jail without bail. He explained how police had reportedly found further messages where the suspect expressed interest in sexually abusing children.
Garcia told the court his parents were trying to hire an attorney to represent him. He was ordered to remain incarcerated and appear again in court Monday.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.