DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Lennon Park, age 32, of Salt Lake City, Utah, pled guilty on October 9, 2008 to using a facility of interstate commerce, namely a computer with internet access, to entice a child, United States Attorney Troy Eid and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced today. The guilty plea was tendered before U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel. Park was remanded, and remains in federal custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Daniel on January 23, 2009.
Lennon Park was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on May 5, 2005.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on January 7, 2004, Lennon Park contacted a 12-year-old girl with the initials R.G. using the Internet. During the initial computer exchange, the defendant expressed a desire to meet R.G. in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for the purpose of having sex. The internet exchange continued between the defendant, using his portable lap top computer, and the victim, as he drove from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Once in Glenwood Springs, Park met up with the 12-year-old girl, where they then had sexual intercourse. Park also faces state charges for his conduct.
“The unthinkable happened: An Internet predator lured a 12-year-old into sexual intercourse,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. “Our hearts go out to the victim and her entire family.”
“I would like to express the FBI’s appreciation to the victim and her family who were instrumental in getting this predator off the streets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis. “We hope that in all the bad that this man has done, some good will come from the fact that he will be locked away and not be able to harm another child.”
Park faces a stipulated sentence of 130 months in federal prison (over 10 years). He also faces up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with invaluable support from the Glenwood Springs Police Department, the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and specifically members from the West Valley City Police Department.
Park was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wyatt Angelo and Kurt Bohn.
The resolution of this case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.