(credit: CBS)
WESTMINSTER (CBS) — A 53-year-old El Monte man was convicted Wednesday of felony charges involving an underage sex sting.
Gregory Ruiz Aguirre was convicted of going to a meeting with a minor for a lewd purpose, attempted lewd conduct with a minor under 14 and communicating with a minor for a lewd purpose, Deputy District Attorney Eric Scarbrough said.
Aguirre responded to a bogus Craigslist ad by Huntington Beach police who made a ficticious profile of a 13-year-old girl looking to make $100.
Jurors deliberated for a couple of hours before reaching their verdicts on the three felony charges, Scarbrough said.
Aguirre faces up to five years in prison when sentenced March 25, Scarbrough said.
Aguirre was one of three men who responded to the ad, Scarbrough said.
Aguirre exchanged several sexually explicit e-mails and online instant messages with the undercover officer, Scarbrough said.
Aguirre made a date to meet May 26 of last year and was arrested when he showed up for it in Huntington Beach, Scarbrough said.
Aguirre denied the charges when he testified during the trial, Scarbrough said.
Howard Houchen Wang, another man caught in the undercover sting, pleaded guilty in December to attempted lewd act on a child under 14, contacting a child with intent to commit a specified crime, meeting a minor to engage in lewd conduct and attempted distribution of lewd material to a minor, all felonies.
Wang was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Alvin Huynh, 24, of Foothill Ranch, was also charged in connection with the sting, but has not gone to trial.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
9 Comments
“13 year old girl looking to make $100″…50%+ of all men would go for that. If I was a guy with a high sex drive that would sound very tempting. Yes, its sick because of the young age but trying to stop men from doing this is like trying to stop people from speeding…NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
March 2, 2011 at 9:48 pm | | Report comment
I disagree with Kathy. Stopping pedophiles from preying on children is really not akin to stopping people from speeding. What we’re talking about here is much more aberrant, and abhorrent, than speeding, and anything that normalizes this conduct is a major step in the wrong direction. Men are not animals who cannot control and take responsibility for their actions.
March 2, 2011 at 10:10 pm | | Report comment
Kathy is right in a way that if the men knew they would not get in trouble the rate might be higher than 50% considering on how some 13 years old look and act.
back when people were not so sexually repressed most men had sex with much younger Women. It’s no wonder there are so many sex crimes that aren’t really crimes.
If Man did not have this powerful instinct there would be no man
March 2, 2011 at 11:26 pm | | Report comment
I have a problem with sting operations resulting in arrests, convictions and sentences…
The fact is, THERE WAS NO CRIME COMMITED!!!
The man had intent to commit a crime, perhaps, but waiting for him at the other end was a bunch of cops, There never was a 13-year old girl involved!
Am I the only one seeing that’s something’s wrong here?
Oh and by the way, I would never touch an underage child. The mere thought if it repulses me, so don’t go accusing me of defending pedophiles. That is not the point.
March 2, 2011 at 11:40 pm | | Report comment
I am a 43 year old mother of three grown children and 4 grandkids. I am grateful that I raised 3 decent kids with little or no trouble. I am shocked at the number of teenagers, especially girls, who are actually on Craigslist, looking for “Sex for Cash”. One day I was looking for a hiking group under “Personal” and I got way more than I bargained for. If you don’t believe me, check out the sure yourself, with CAUTION. I was disgusted at what I came across. I also learned that 24 hour fitness’ “Family Changing Room” is a place for many sexual meet-ups. I haven’t been back to 24 hour fitness since. If cops don’t patrol these sites to keep teenagers safe, your teenager could be the next victim of a serious sexual attack. Men, and some women too, go on these sites looking for very immature vulnerable teenagers. In some cases, teenagers get more than they bargain for. My hat is off to all law enforcement who work diligently to keep our communities safe.
March 3, 2011 at 5:47 am | | Report comment
Are any of your grandkids free this weekend- I’d like to take them to a carnival or something. Boys, girls, doesn’t matter.
March 3, 2011 at 7:08 am | | Report comment
Robear- I highly respect your opinion, and at one time, I too believed that this was unfair entrapment. But if you dare to search the site, you will be amazed at the number of young girls and young gay boys looking for sex. I was looking for a hiking club, and I ended up strolling through the site for 2 hours in disbelief at What I came across. If law enforcement does not partol these sites to get rid of sexual preditors, We will lose the fight to keep our children safe. For all I know, one of my young nieces or nephews can have an ad up, looking for an extra $100.00. I can’t thank law enforcement enough for all their hard work, keeping our kids as safe as possible.
March 3, 2011 at 5:58 am | | Report comment
Pat Robertson – I am reporting your response to my local police department thus morning. I have zero tolerance for sexual preditors and I am certain they will take your threat against my grandchildren very seriously.
March 3, 2011 at 8:01 am | | Report comment
Press 2 for spanish…
Once again within less than a week, another discovery of mexican pedaphile. Most people do not realize this happens in a greater number in mexico and they were not reported to authorities. Heck, even authority was probably involved. All people should now realized where our hard earned money goes into the tax for; footing wellfare for them, so they can stay to meet up with your daughter. Now, go back to work and pay more taxes.
August 19, 2011 at 6:40 pm | | Report comment