Charleston County, South Carolina — A week-long undercover operation to protect children from internet predators resulted in the conviction of a Charleston County man who believed he was meeting a 13-year-old girl for sex.
A jury convicted Juan Marcos Cotto, 61, of attempted criminal sexual activity with a juvenile, second degree, and criminal solicitation of a minor, according to a news release issued Thursday, Oct. 30.
The investigation began in July 2023 with “Operation Cast Net,” an undercover chat operation organized by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
According to investigators, Cotto had sexually explicit communications with an undercover cop acting as a 13-year-old girl, accepted her age, and agreed to meet for a sexual encounter. He was apprehended when he arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location.
Circuit Court Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Cotto to 20 years in jail, suspended for 15 years active and five years on probation, for attempted criminal sexual conduct and 10 years for criminal solicitation of a minor. The sentences will run concurrently. Cotto must register as a sex offender if freed.
The Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office investigated and prosecuted the case.
