CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man will spend time in state prison for sending graphic photos to an underage girl.
John Paul Lutzow, 33, pleaded guilty to design/copy obscene material-depicting minor, Tuesday during sentencing court.
Judge Paul Cherry sentenced him to nine months to five years in state prison. He was fined $1 plus costs and was ordered to complete the Project Point of Light Program.
Prior to sentencing, Cherry stated that he hoped Lutzow would get “the help you need to deal with the various issues you have.” It was noted that Lutzow had a Megan’s Law assessment, but was found not to be a sexually violent predator. However, he will still have to register his address under Megan’s Law because he is a sexual offender.
The charges stem from incidents in March when Lutzow exchanged naked photos with a teenage girl.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, after the girl stayed at his home Feb. 20, they began texting. A witness told police about the contact on March 9.
Lutzow’s phone was seized as part of the investigation, and officers were able to determine that text messages between the victim and Lutzow had been deleted.
When police spoke with the victim, she admitted they had been talking “inappropriately” since Feb. 27. For a few days, it was just talk and then he sent her a naked photo of himself from the waist down, she said.
He then asked her to send him photos of her “private parts.” She responded with a photo of herself in only a bra. He asked for more and she then sent him various naked photos.
In an interview with police March 10, he denied sending or receiving photos from the victim and claimed the witness was upset with him and this was why she was making accusations.
The victim’s father found an iPod the victim had been using to send text messages. He gave it to police. On this device, investigators found naked photos determined to be Lutzow as well as text messages between him and the victim. The victim’s cell phone also had multiple naked photos of the victim.
None of these photos were found on Lutzow’s cell phone.
During a second interview with police, Lutzow eventually admitted to sending the naked photos and asking for photos of the victim. He said he sent the photos from an old cell phone. He stated he did this because he was “lonely,” but added that he was “a piece of [expletive]” for doing these things and that he “wanted to die.”