LOGAN — A 19-year-old Tremonton man has confessed to driving to a Logan park to allegedly have sex with who he thought was 13-year-old girl. Garett Wade Rhodes was arrested Sept. 12, 2023 after finding law enforcement waiting to arrest him at a prearranged location.
Rhodes accepted a plea deal April 3 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He pleaded guilty to enticing a minor by internet or text, amended to a third-degree felony.
According to prosecutors, Rhodes began messaging an undercover officer with the Logan City Police Department in early September. The officer was posing as a teenage girl on an internet app which allows users to post photos and videos.
Rhodes originally described himself as a 16-year-old boy and began making arrangements to meet in person for the purpose of sexual activity. He told the undercover officer that he wanted her to sneak out of her house at night to meet up with him, court documents detailed.
As the chats continued, police report Rhodes asked the undercover officer to send him naked images and videos of herself. The officer created several fake files, which appeared to be legitimate images or videos that would not open or play. The files were texted to Rhodes’ phone and later to his email address.
On Sept. 12, Rhodes messaged the undercover officer that he could come see her around lunch. At the time and designated place, he arrived and was taken into custody by awaiting officers. Inside his vehicle, police found a box of condoms and sexual enhancement pills, according to the probable cause statement.
While being questioned at the police department, Rhodes reportedly admitted to chatting with the supposed 13-year-old girl with the intent to meet up and have sex. He also acknowledged to receiving the corrupt files, believing they were child pornography, and trying to view them, the arrest affidavit stated.
During the April 3 court hearing, defense attorney Shannon Demler explained that in exchange for Rhodes’ guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed three remaining charges. Both sides also agreed not to ask for a prison term at the time of sentencing.
Rhodes is currently undergoing a psycho-sexual evaluation in preparation for sentencing, June 12. He is currently out of jail on pretrial release.