Registered sex offender faces new charges

A Price man, who was already a registered sex offender, is facing some serious federal prison time after being charged with trying to meet a child over the Internet for sex.

Matthew D. Jardine, 32, was charged Monday in U.S. District Court with one count of enticement for sexual activity. According to charging documents Jardine carried on a series of chats with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl from Dec. 3, 2007 to Jan 11, 2008. In reality, the person he was chatting with was an undercover officer with the FBI. During the course of their chats, Jardine reportedly talked to the officer about sexual activity.

Eventually a meeting was set up in Price in which Jardine was arrested when he showed up. After his arrest, Jardine told police he only intended to talk with the 13-year-old and did not plan to have sex with her.

Records indicated that Jardine is a registered sex offender who had a prior arrest involving enticing a minor over the Internet.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory five years up to 30 years in prison.