LOGAN — A 20-year-old West Valley City man has pleaded guilty to driving to Logan to have sex with an undercover police officer, posing as a teenage girl. Seth Ellis Peck has been in the Cache County Jail since being arrested during a sting operation Sept. 5, 2023.
According to court records, Peck participated in a pretrial conference Monday, June 24, in Logan’s First District Court. He waived his right to a trial and accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to attempted sodomy of a child, a first-degree felony; and enticing a minor, a second-degree felony.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss two remaining charges.
In July 2023, Peck began communicating with the Logan City Police officer. The officer was posing as a 13-year-old girl on a website, where users post messages to groups based on the university or college they attend.
Peck originally told the officer he was 17-years-old. The chats continued until the defendant made arrangements to meet the supposed teenager and engage in sexual activities.
A time and place was set up, where police were waiting when Peck arrived. He reportedly had several condoms and lubricant in a backpack, according to prosecutors.
Peck consented to let police search his phone, where the chats were located. He originally said, he was planning to call police when he arrived and met the girl, so they could question her about communicating with him. He later confessed to wanting to engage in illegal acts with the supposed juvenile.
During Monday’s court appearance, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck accepted Peck’s plea deal and ordered him to complete a presentence report about his criminal history, compiled by probation agents.
Peck remains in jail being held without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced August 12 and could face up to life in prison.