ST. CLOUD, Minn (KFGO/WJON) – An Elk River man who pleaded guilty after getting caught in a solicitation of a child sting out of Stearns County has been sentenced.
Kyle Barton, 45, received 10 days in jail and five years of probation. He received credit for four days already served.
Barton pleaded guilty to a felony charge of engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with a child. Two other charges involving sexual conduct with a child were dismissed at his sentencing.
According to the charges, an undercover officer with the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force set up the profile of a teenage girl in an online chat room known for the solicitation of minors.
In November 2022, Barton made contact with someone he thought he thought was a 15-year-old girl. According to court documents, the conversation quickly turned sexual with Barton initiating the conversation.
Barton was also accused of asking for nude pictures.
Police said Barton asked to set up a time to meet in St. Cloud, and when Barton showed up at the address they provided, he was arrested and booked into the Stearns County Jail.
Source: KFGO
