LOGAN — A 19-year-old West Valley City man has been arrested after he allegedly drove to a spot in Logan, intending to have sex with a teenage girl, and found police waiting. Seth Ellis Peck was booked Tuesday, Sept. 5, into the Cache County Jail.
According to an arrest affidavit, Logan City Police officers report Peck began communicating with an undercover officer in July. 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 Tuesday, when the suspect 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 the probable cause statement.
Peck consented to let police search his phone, where the chats were located. He originally claimed, 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.
According to court records, Peck was arraigned Wednesday during a virtual hearing in Logan’s 1st District Court. He appeared by video conference and was charged with attempted rape of a child and attempted sodomy on a child, both first-degree felonies; and two counts of enticing a minor, a second-degree felony.
Peck was ordered to remain in jail temporarily and appear again in court Monday afternoon. 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.