LOGAN — An 18-year-old Tremonton man is in jail after driving to a Logan park to allegedly have sex with a 13-year-old girl and finding law enforcement waiting to arrest him. Garett Wade Rhodes was booked Tuesday, Sept. 12, into the Cache County Jail.
According to an arrest affidavit, Rhodes began messaging an undercover officer with the Logan City Police Department several weeks ago. 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.
Tuesday, 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 affidavit stated.
Rhodes was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted rape of a child, aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and enticing a minor, all felony offences. He was scheduled to be arraigned on formal charges in 1st District Court in Logan on Wednesday.
According to court records, Rhodes’ arraignment was cancelled and he was allowed to be released from jail on pretrial supervision. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.