A Sierra Vista man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to transport a teen with the intent to engage in prostitution.
On Monday, Sept. 25, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez sentenced Matthew Demond Lyons, 23, to imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release, according to a news release.
Lyons pleaded guilty to attempted transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity, aiding and abetting, authorities said. Lyons will be required to register as a sex offender.
In January 2016, Lyons attempted via electronic communications to induce a 16-year-old girl to travel to Arizona from Minnesota. He told the teen to send him nude photographs and to call him "daddy", authorities said.
Lyons, who bought a bus ticket for the teen to travel to Arizona, also told the girl that he would provide her with food, drugs and shelter. The girl boarded a bus in Minnesota and was traveling to Arizona before law enforcement found her, said officials.
