Jason Steven Murch sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages to girl, 13, even after he found out she was underage
A car wash worker who posed as a 16-year-old on social media still continued to send sexually explicit messages to a girl after he found out she was only 13.
Police & Courts
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A car wash worker who pretended to be a 16-year-old on social media continued to send sexually explicit messages to a girl even after he discovered she was 13.
Jason Steven Murch said he originally sent the messages because he was stressed at work and lonely due to problems in his marriage.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Tuesday to using the internet to procure a child under 16.
Judge Michael Williamson sentenced him to two years’ probation. No conviction was recorded.
“She was young, there was a large age difference assumed and the offending is serious albeit at the lower end,” he said.
Judge Williamson said he was satisfied Murch did not pose a significant threat to the child or children under 16.
The court was told that in November 2019 Murch began messaging with a girl on social media pretending he was a 16-year-old boy.
She told him she was 19.
They exchanged sexually explicit messages on Snapchat until the girl’s father found out.
The girl’s dad then pretended to be her and at one point asked if he knew she was only 13.
Murch said he was OK with it if she was.
More messages were exchanged.
The dad went to police.
Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said: “A lot of people have those stressors in their life but most don’t turn to sexually based conversations with underage children.”
Defence barrister Gavin Webber, instructed by Howden Saggers Lawyers, said at the time of the conversations Murch, a New Zealand citizen, was experiencing stress at work and his marriage was on the rocks.
“He was stressed at work, struggling at home and he was lonely,” he said.
“He was never on the internet looking for underage girls.
“He was posing as a 16/17-year-old man hoping to connect with younger women.”
Mr Webber said Murch was the sole breadwinner for his family.
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