MURRAY — A man who investigators believe sought out underage girls and befriended them for the purpose of later having sex was arrested by Murray police late Thursday.
Michael John Dylan Kirth, 20, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of 10 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, all third-degree felonies, and one count of sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
The two victims positively identified by police as of Friday were aged 9 and 14. Investigators believe strongly there was at least a third victim and possibly more, said Murray police detective Rob Hall. Police are now encouraging other potential victims or their families to step forward.
Hall said that in each case, Kirth is believed to have met the girls in public places, such as the mall or even walking down the street.
"He would befriend them. It would start by exchanging phone numbers or e-mail addresses with the girls," Hall said. "He gained their trust. He took his time."
Police believe that after gaining the girls' trust, Kirth committed sexual acts with them, Hall said. The girls were not forced into any of the sexual activity.
While Kirth did not fit the stereotype of a predator who violently abducts and rapes children, investigators say he still preyed on girls mainly between 12 to 16 years old.
"We're labeling him a predator because there was more than one incident," Hall said. "We believe that was his intent, to lure these girls into a sexual relationship."
Police became aware of Kirth about a week ago, when a father called police, concerned his daughter might be in an inappropriate relationship with an older man.
When police questioned Kirth, he was fairly cooperative, Hall said. None of the families of the victims had any idea about the extent of what was happening, he said.
"He was working so subtly, so quietly," Hall said.
The sexual activity occurred at either a concealed location, in a public place or at the homes of the girls when the parents weren't around, Hall said. Investigators believe Kirth had been seeking out young girls and having sexual relations with them for the past six to eight months.
He has his own Web page on the My Space site, and that page was being investigated Friday by Murray Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. As of Friday, Hall said investigators had found no evidence in Kirth's home of child pornography. Investigators also did not have evidence Friday that Kirth used his My Space account to meet any of his victims. Anyone with additional information on Kirth or who might know of other victims is asked to call Murray police at 840-4000.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com