Child predator stopped by trucker team appears in court
Now faces eight felony charges
UPDATE -
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Bruce Parks, the man arrested for planning to have sex with a minor, appeared in court Monday.
He entered a not guilty plea, even asking the judge if he could be released for his son's birthday, which the judge denied.
Parks now faces eight felony counts, including aggravated luring of a minor for sex, and possession of dangerous drugs.
Parks is a resident of Calipatria, California.
Police say he drove nearly 80 miles to meet-up with a 13-year-old decoy set up y the group Truckers Against Predators earlier this January.
UPDATE - The man that was arrested after Truckers Against Predators and Yuma Police teamed up appeared in Yuma Justice Court on Friday afternoon.
Bruce Parks, 27, is now facing 5 felony charges including luring of minor for sex as well as possesion of a dangerous substance.
During court, it was revealed that he does have prior misdemanor and felony charges in the State of California including being on probation until later this year.
His bond was set at $100,000 and is due back in court on Tuesday.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE - A man was taken away in a police cruiser after Truckers Against Predators and Yuma Police teamed up Thursday night.
The suspect allegedly traveled from California to a Love's Gas Station in Yuma to pick up a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual acts, according to Anthony at Truckers Against Predators.
Anthony told News 11 the man allegedly had methamphetamine and gun in his possession.
The incident was captured on film, where Anthony described the 32-year- old suspect even brought wedding rings in hopes of marrying the teenage girl.
This is not the first time Truckers Against Predators has made a stop in Yuma. The group was in Yuma in November 2018 and caught Matthew Sanchez on camera trying to lure a 13-year-old girl, as well.
"This is Yuma, Arizona, guys. This is where we got Matthew Sanchez in prison," said Anthony.
Sanchez was sentenced in July for luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
Tune into the Early Edition on KYMA News 11 Friday for a full report from Ciara Encinas. She will sit down with the trucker who worked hand-in-hand with Yuma Police.
