LOGAN, Utah, Sept. 18, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Logan judge has sentenced an Idaho man to jail for attempting to extort explicit photos and videos from a Hyrum girl.
Pocatello resident Michael Powell, 21, was arrested in October of 2017, and on Monday pleaded guilty to reduced charges of sexual extortion and sexual exploitation of a minor, both second-degree felonies.
The plea deal came after Powell was initially charged with 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and aggravated sexual extortion of a child, a first-degree felony.
Powell was arrested after a 17-year-old girl told police he had been extorting her for graphic photos and videos. The girl told officers she and Powell had had an online relationship two years earlier and, during that time, he had convinced her to send nude photos and videos.
After the teen ended the relationship, Powell tried to get her to send more explicit photos and videos, saying if she did not, he would send those he had to her family.
The victim contacted a counselor at Mountain Crest High, who contacted law officials. Deputies tracked Powell to Pocatello and made the arrest.
First District Judge Kevin Allen sentenced Powell to a year in jail and ordered him to complete sex offender therapy. Allen declined to give Powell credit for 10 months served in jail.
