Florida man charged with sexually exploiting Utah teen
May 18, 2025, 7:34 PM
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
PROVO — A Florida man was charged Friday with engaging in sexually explicit conversations with a Utah teen.
Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, is charged in 4th District Court with two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony; plus enticing a minor and three counts of criminal solicitation, class A misdemeanors.
In April, investigators discovered that a 15-year-old Utah County girl had been talking with Menard on social media, according to charging documents.
“At one point (Menard) asked (the girl), ‘Are u secretly 15 lol’ to which (she) responded … ‘of course (y)eppers I’m actually in middle school,'” the charges state.
Despite knowing her age, Menard continued to talk to the girl, according to prosecutors, who say that during the entire time the two conversed, “the conversations are largely sexual in nature.”
At one point, Menard discusses meeting up with the girl in Las Vegas.
“(Menard) over the course of several months, corresponded with (the teen) for the purpose of soliciting sex, sodomy, and child sex abuse material from the minor. (He) discussed in graphic detail his intent to sexually abuse the child. (He) encouraged and engaged with (the teen) all from the state of Florida, where all his substantial ties to the community and resources are. (Menard) has no connection to Utah,” the charges state.
Prosecutors have requested a no-bail arrest warrant be issued.
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