A Phoenix man was arrested last week for allegedly stalking a 16-year-old girl who attends Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. ABC News reports that the teenage girl informed the police resource at the high school about 25-year-old Michael Guthier, who was standing in the parking lot of Saguaro High School when authorities approached him.
Michael Guthier's defense was that he and the victim had been in an Internet and cell phone relationship for six months. He reportedly told the victim that he was coming to her school so that he could meet up with her. This isn't considered a valid legal defense for stalking, so he'll probably want to have a Phoenix criminal lawyer to defend him in court if he is formally charged with a crime.
Scottsdale police officers arrested Michael Guthier last week on one count of furnishing obscene material to a minor and aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation. Police officers have also been encouraging parents in the community to talk to their children about the dangers of online sexual predators.
Arizona Revised Statute 13-3506.01 states that it is unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly transmit or send to a minor "harmful items" through electronic mail, personal messaging, or other internet communication. Sending obscene material to a minor through the Internet is considered a felony crime in the state of Arizona and is punishable with imprisonment. More information on sexual exploitation crimes can be found through our Related Resources pages.
Related Resources:
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Sex Offenders and Sex Offenses (FindLaw)
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Locate a Phoenix Criminal Lawyer (FindLaw)
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Feds Continue Crack-Down on Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
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