West Valley City man admits to trying to meet police officer by posing as teenage girl

LOGAN — A 20-year-old West Valley City man has pleaded guilty to driving to Logan to have sex with an undercover police officer posing as a teenage girl. Seth Ellis Peck has been in the Cache County Jail since his arrest in a sting operation on Sept. 5, 2023.

According to court documents, Peck attended a pretrial conference on Monday, June 24, in First District Court in Logan. He waived his right to a trial and accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to attempted sodomy of a child, a first-degree felony, and seduction of a minor, a second-degree felony.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other two charges.

In July 2023, Peck began communicating with the Logan City police officer. The officer posed as a 13-year-old girl on a website where users post to groups based on the university or college they attend.

Peck initially told the officer he was 17 years old. The discussions continued until the accused made arrangements to meet the alleged teenager and engage in sexual activity.

A time and location were set, where police would meet Peck when he arrived. According to prosecutors, he had several condoms and lubricant in a backpack.

Peck agreed to have police search his phone, where the chats were located. He initially said he planned to call police when he arrived and met the girl, so she could question him about communicating with him. He then admitted to wanting to engage in illegal acts with the alleged minor.

At a court appearance Monday, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck accepted Peck’s plea deal and ordered him to complete a presentence report on his criminal history, compiled by probation officers.

Peck remains in jail without bond. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12 and faces life in prison.