Anchorage Daily News | Kansas man convicted of attempted rape of nonexistent girl
The Associated Press
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (November 28, 6:05 p.m. AST) - A man was convicted of attempted rape for planning to assault a nonexistent 10-year-old girl who was imagined in an effort to break up a child pornography ring.
Prosecutors said Steven Peterman, 44, believed the child was real and that he intended to commit the crime.
Peterman was convicted Wednesday of attempted rape, solicitation to commit rape and sexual exploitation of a child. He faces 11 years in prison at his sentencing Dec. 27.
Authorities said a woman Peterman met in a bar made up the girl to help break up a child pornography ring.
Although prosecutor Keith Schroeder admitted to performing "a little bit of legal gymnastics" in filing the attempted rape charge, he said Peterman wasn't prosecuted for simply thinking about raping a child.
He was arrested with several photos characterized by police as child pornography, along with a variety of sex toys.
"When he went to the residence where he believed the child was waiting, he had purchased several items that he intended to use in committing a crime," Schroeder said.
Tim Frieden, Peterman's defense lawyer, had an unlisted number and could not be reached for comment Thursday.
0 comments:
Post a Comment