A 28-year-old Bountiful man was arrested after allegedly going to a Herriman meeting spot expecting to have sex with a 13-year-old girl — and reportedly arriving with a condom. The girl was actually an undercover officer, and David Job Smith now faces three felony charges.
According to ABC4 Utah, an undercover officer posed as a 13-year-old during an online investigation into the enticing of minors. Smith allegedly contacted the account on Snapchat, discussed sexual activity, and continued communicating after being told the person was 13.
Court documents say Smith agreed to meet at a predetermined location in Herriman. The messages allegedly included Smith saying, “ok we gotta keep it a secret tho,” before the meeting was arranged.
Officers took Smith into custody when he arrived, according to the filings. An arresting officer reportedly verified that the phone Smith had with him was the same device used in the undercover conversation, and Smith allegedly acknowledged that he came to the location to hook up.
What The Charges Mean Under Utah Law
Smith faces attempted rape of a child, listed as a first-degree felony; enticing a minor, a second-degree felony; and obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony, ABC4 reported. The available account does not detail the conduct behind the obstruction allegation.
Utah’s attempt statute treats an attempt to commit rape of a child as a first-degree felony, while the state’s enticement law says an undercover officer’s involvement is not a defense to the charge. The law also grades enticement based on the seriousness of the sexual activity allegedly sought.
Another Utah Undercover Chat Case
The arrest echoes an earlier Utah sting in which Lehi police arrested an Eagle Mountain man who allegedly arranged to meet someone he believed was a teenage girl, as per Hoodline. That case, like Smith’s, began with online messages and ended with officers waiting at the meeting location.
Smith is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the allegations in court. The case is expected to proceed through Utah’s criminal court system, where prosecutors will determine how the charges move forward.
