Accountant Caught Trying to Meet 13-Year-Old

Summary

In a sting operation, Charles Lawrence, a well-off accountant and commercial real estate broker from Fairfield, Connecticut, was apprehended for attempting to meet a 13-year-old boy. Lawrence, who lives only 2,000 feet from the sting house, exchanged sexually explicit messages with the decoy, referring to himself as an 'eight by six guy'. When the decoy revealed his age as 13, Lawrence inquired if he was a police officer and expressed a need for caution. He later discussed hardcore gay porn with the decoy. Upon arrival at the sting house, Lawrence was confronted by Chris Hansen and attempted to flee. Fairfield police apprehended him, finding cigarettes, condoms, and a gay porn video called 'Seattle Bareback Boys' in his car. During interrogation, Lawrence claimed poor eyesight was the reason he misread the decoy's age as 18 instead of 13, stating, 'I thought he's at 18 I swear to God.' Despite his explanation, he was charged with criminal attempt to commit risk of injury to a minor, criminal attempt to commit sexual assault in the second degree, and enticing a minor. Lawrence pleaded guilty and received an eight-year suspended sentence after serving two years in prison, and must register as a sex offender. The Fairfield Police Chief commended the sentence as a strong message against predators.