Once again our courts fail to punish those who prey on children for their own sexual hungers.
ST. LOUIS — A man caught in a sting targeting those who seek out young girls for sex pleaded guilty Wednesday in a deal that will result in six years in federal prison.
MATTHEW S. NICHOL 44, St. Charles County, was indicted July 16, by a federal grand jury on two felony counts of attempted sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion in July 09.
Today Nichol pleaded guilty to two felony counts of using interstate commerce for a commercial sex act, and admitted agreeing to pay $200 to have sex with two girls, ages 14 and 16.
Using his cell phone, Nichol accessed the Craigslist website on July 13, looking for prostitutes. He admitted responding to an ad placed by investigators that offered young girls “of an indeterminate age,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bodenhausen said in court.
After corresponding with undercover agents via e-mail, Nichol agreed to go to a location in St. Louis County on July 14, where he was arrested by FBI agents and St. Louis County and Maryland Heights police.
Nichol was one of three men arrested in the sting, which also nabbed landscaping company employee David P. Hawkey, 25, and the Rev. James Patrick Grady, 58, pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Church in south St. Louis. Those men pleaded not guilty.
As originally charged, Nichol could have faced at least 10 years in prison. Under the plea, both sides agreed to a six-year term.
Nichol’s lawyer, Brad Kessler, said the deal signals the punishment the others might expect if they were to plead guilty.
Nichol will be held in jail until his sentencing in December.
