File photo.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

CONTENT ADVISORY

A Vernon man got a visit from law enforcement after he sent a nude photo to someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl.

He had unknowingly sent the photo to a teen girl's father in a series of text conversations over two weeks, according to a recent Vernon Provincial Court decision.

The man, who was referred to as L.S. in the decision, was 34 years old when he sent an unsolicited photo of his penis in a text message.

The conversations began when another man identified as Mr. N. started looking through his teenage daughter's phone for "inappropriate activity."

He came across a blocked contact, which seemed unusual, so he sent a text message to find out why the number was blocked.

What ensued was a conversation between L.S. and Mr. N who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. The girl was simply referred to as M. in the decision, but the conversation was always between the two men.

The three people involved weren't named because of a publication ban in place to protect the identity of the underage victim, according to the decision.

The men exchanged text messages over a period of two weeks, briefly stopping when L.S. said they could talk more when she turns 18.

According to the decision, the fictional 14-year-old had a birthday while they briefly cut contact. L.S. wished her a happy birthday and they soon began speaking again.

He asked what she looked like, sending a clothed photo of himself, which was unsolicited. Mr. N. sent an altered old photo of his girlfriend, whom L.S. said was beautiful, according to the decision.

As their conversation continued, L.S.'s comments became more sexually suggestive, telling her he wanted to have her "with a side of chocolate" for his lunch. He said she made him "think dirty thoughts" and he would be "all over her" if he was 16.

Before it all came to an end, he arranged to get her alcohol, with vague plans to meet after he was done work the next day.

Three hours later, he sent an unsolicited photo of his penis. He asked multiple times if she liked it, then asked her to send a photo of herself.

Mr. N. then reported the photo and the conversations to police, and L.S. was arrested at work.

A father of two, L.S.'s criminal charges not only resulted in a conviction, but also a divorce, according to the decision.

He was convicted by a judge of communicating with a person believed to be under 18 for the purpose of accessing child pornography, which landed him an 18-month conditional sentence, according to the Dec. 13 decision.

He'll be under house arrest for the first nine months, with exceptions for work and healthcare. He'll be under a curfew for the next nine months.

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