LOGAN — A 36-year-old Mendon man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexting an undercover police officer posing as a teenage girl, according to law enforcement. M. Arthur Berrett was arrested last month, four years after a sting operation was conducted to try and locate individuals who prey upon children.
Berrett made his initial appearance March 2 in Logan’s First District Court. He was charged with four counts of enticing a minor, a second-degree felony.
According to Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons, Berrett allegedly contacted the undercover officer through social media in February 2022. He sent several messages that were sexually graphic in nature, despite the officer claiming they were a teenage girl.
Police were able to track the IP address to a Comcast account that was registered to Berrett. He was taken into custody at the time and questioned.
Despite the evidence, Simmons said the Cache County Attorney’s Office decided at the time not to file any charges. However, earlier this year, prosecutors reviewed the case again and felt their was sufficient to have Berrett arrested.
Berrett is currently out of jail and scheduled to return to court March 23. He could face more than 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.