Midvale man arranged to have sex with children, FBI says

SALT LAKE CITY — A 77-year-old Midvale man who investigators say was traveling to Las Vegas to have what he thought was illegal sexual activity with minors, was arrested in an undercover sting.

Ray Alvin Stephenson was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail over the weekend for investigation of six counts of enticing a minor over the Internet.

From June 28 through Sunday, Stephenson had text message conversations with a person he thought was a mother with two young girls, ages 9 and 11, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. The woman was actually an undercover FBI agent.

"In exchange for the sexual activity ... Stephenson indicated he would pay $100," the report states.

Investigators intercepted Stephenson in Salt Lake City "as he was traveling by bus to Las Vegas" to allegedly commit the illegal activity.

While being interviewed by police, Stephenson allegedly "admitted to making arrangements approximately 20 years ago with a prostitute" to engage in sexual intercourse with her two minor children in the back of a van in north Las Vegas, according to the report.

FBI spokeswoman Deborah Bertram said she was not allowed to comment on the investigation Monday.

— Pat Reavy

Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam