El Monte Man, 53, Convicted In Underage Sex Sting
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.
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