Man arrested in probe of nude photographs

A Taylorsville man police say would give underage homeless girls a place to stay in exchange for taking nude photographs of them was arrested Wednesday.

The 38-year-old man was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of unlawful sexual conduct.

Investigators say the man would hang out at places like the Liberty Park drum circle and the Salt Lake City Library looking for young homeless girls.

"He was offering homeless girls a place to stay overnight. Part of the deal was they posed naked for photographs," said Taylorsville Police Sgt. Rosie Rivera.

In December, the man allowed a 17-year-old to stay at his house, police say, taking pictures of her nude and then raping her later that night, Rivera said. The girl went to police shortly after.

Police also seized hundreds of photos at the man's house showing photos of naked young girls in sexual poses, Rivera said. Most of the girls appeared to be underage, some as young as 15, she said.

"We don't know how long it's been going on, if it's years or what," Rivera said.

Investigators would now like to track down some of those girls to talk to them. Anyone with information on the man or his victims can call police at 743-7000.

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