LOGAN — A 25-year-old North Logan man is being sent to prison for trying to meet up for sex with an undercover police officer who was posing as a teenage girl. Adrian Kay Flores has been in the Cache County Jail since being arrested during a sting operation Aug. 7, 2024.
Flores was sentenced Nov. 3 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and enticing a minor, both second-degree felonies; and dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.
According to prosecutors, the Logan City Police officer was posing as a young girl online when Flores sent him a message, asking if she was actually 13-years-old. He then began to regularly communicate with the officer, asking them to send him pornographic photos. He also sent a naked picture to the officer.
As the messages continued, Flores suggested that he and the undercover officer become “friends with benefits.” He also expressed a desire to meet the supposed teen girl while she was home alone, so they could engage in sex.
A time and place was arranged at a Logan park. Flores was arrested by law enforcement as he arrived. He began to run away as police attempted to handcuff him, and was tackled to the ground and taken into custody.
While being questioned by law enforcement, Flores reportedly admitted to chatting with the undercover officer for the purpose of engaging in sex with the supposed child. He also consented to a search of his phone, where the chats with the officer were located.
During Monday’s sentencing, defense attorney Cameron Cox asked the court to sentence Flores to jail instead of prison, explaining how the defendant was depressed and having mental health issues at the time the crimes occurred. He noted how the North Logan man, who had been raped as a child, was just lonely and wanted friends.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Ronnie Keller disagreed, and said the charges were egregious and merited a prison sentence. He explained how Flores was on probation when the crimes occurred after assaulting a former girlfriend and stalking a 15-year-old girl he had met on Snapchat.
Flores said he was sorry for what he did and never intended to hurt anyone. He expressed remorse, and hoped to be a better person in the future.
Judge Spencer Walsh said the case was evidence of how young people can get into a lot of trouble online. He sentenced Flores to serve a term of 1 to 15 years in prison.