A 56-year-old Phoenix man is headed to state prison for a full decade after a Yavapai County judge ruled he tried to lure what he thought was a 14-year-old girl online. Aaron Adan Salazar was sentenced Friday, Feb. 20, to 10 years in prison following a sting operation that prosecutors say stopped him before he could ever meet a real child. Officials described the punishment as both a penalty for Salazar and a clear warning to would-be predators.
According to a press release from the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, Salazar was convicted of Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation and ordered to serve the 10-year term day for day, with no chance of early release. The office said Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Krista Carman imposed the sentence.
Prosecutors say the case started on Nov. 12, 2025, when Salazar contacted an online profile named "Claire" that detectives had set up as a decoy. The conversations quickly turned sexual, according to the county, with Salazar repeatedly asking for nude photos and sex acts even after the profile identified "Claire" as 14. At one point he allegedly told the account he wished he had met her when she was 11, calling it a "bucket list thing." Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane said, "Anyone who tries to lure a child for sexual purposes belongs in prison," and praised the sheriff’s office for stopping Salazar before a real child was put at risk. The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office press release lays out the details.
Investigation and evidence
As reported by KTAR, detectives used the decoy profile to identify and arrest Salazar once the chats turned sexual. The outlet’s account matches the county’s version and describes how message logs and detective testimony helped prosecutors build the case that led to Salazar’s conviction.
County reaction and next steps
McGrane urged parents to have direct conversations with their children about internet safety and pointed families toward official online safety resources. He commended Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes and his detectives for their work and said the sentence should serve as a warning to anyone thinking about trying to exploit children online. The county attorney’s office encouraged anyone with information about similar activity to contact the sheriff’s office.
Salazar is set to begin serving his 10-year term in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Prosecutors said the case underscores a broader effort by law enforcement to use undercover decoy accounts to stop child exploitation before it leaves the digital world. County officials noted that community members and parents looking for guidance can turn to state internet-safety resources referenced in their public materials.
