A 23-year-old Shakopee man has been charged with four felony criminal counts, all related to a police undercover prostitution operation.
Franklin Alexander Segovia Lopez is charged with prostitution for agreeing to hire someone he believed to be ages 13 to 16. Count II charges Lopez with soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. Counts III and IV relate to using electronic communication to solicit a child to engage in sexual conduct, or engaging or describing sexual conduct with a child.
According to the police complaint:
Eden Prairie police joined several other law enforcement agencies in an undercover prostitution and child exploitation detail.
Officers placed ads online posing as a female, according to the police complaint. Lopez was one of the individuals who responded to a posting, police say.
On June 9, Lopez engaged in a chat conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl named “Hanna.”
Lopez messaged “Hanna” stating, “Let’s go have some fun.” When “Hanna” asked Lopez what he wanted to do, he responded with explicit requests. Then they discussed the price, and “Hanna” sent Lopez a picture.
Lopez continued to make explicit comments about what he would like to do with “Hanna.” After negotiating, they agreed on $40 and Lopez asked for an address where they would meet.
“Hanna” then provided Lopez with an Eden Prairie address, where he was arrested upon arrival.
Police then confirmed that Lopez’s phone was used to message “Hanna” and found that he had condoms and $40 cash with him.
Lopez told police he had communicated with a girl named “Hanna” and that she was 15 years old. Lopez said he thought she was “playing.”
Lopez has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and/or a $6,000-$20,000 fine for Count I. For counts II-IV, he faces a maximum sentence of three years and/or a $5,000 fine.
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