This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office says a California man allegedly was intent on having sex with a 13-year-old Utah girl, and had also targeted two more young female targets in Colorado.
Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon says Jason Reed Akers, 38, of Ontario, Calif., was arrested Wednesday at an otherwise unspecified Utah County public location where he had been led to believe the underage girl would meet him.
Actually, the "girl" Akers allegedly had made Internet contact with on Monday was an agent of the Utah Valley Special Victims Task Force.
"After he arrived there Akers was arrested by detectives. During the course of the investigation detectives [also] found methamphetamine, marijuana, spice, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun," Cannon stated.
Subsequent investigation also revealed that Akers allegedly had also made arrangements to meet two 14-year-old girls at different locations in Colorado later this week.
Cannon said law enforcement agencies in those locations were informed and are conducting their own investigation and possible charges against Akers.
Meanwhile, Akers remained in the Utah County jail Thursday, where in was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail on suspicion of second- and third-degree felony counts of enticement, solicitation, seduction or luring a minor via the internet or text; two third-degree felony counts of dealing in harmful materials to a minor; third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person; and misdemeanor drug and drug paraphernalia possession counts.
Twitter: @remims