Nevada Man Harper Gets 30 Years for Child Sex Lure

David Harper, 50, of Henderson, Nevada, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison after crossing state lines with the intent to sexually assault a child under 12. The sentence, handed down today in Fort Smith, Arkansas, includes an additional five years of supervised release following his prison term. The case marks another win for federal task forces cracking down on predators using the internet to target minors.

Harper appeared before U.S. District Chief Judge P. K. Holmes, III, in the Western District of Arkansas, where he pleaded guilty in June 2016 to one count of Knowingly Crossing State Lines with Intent to Engage in Sexual Act with Person Under 12 Years Old. The charges stem from an online sting operation that began in August 2015, when Harper initiated explicit chats with what he believed was a child—but was, in fact, an undercover Fort Smith Police Department detective.

On January 25, 2016, Harper boarded a flight from Las Vegas to Fort Smith, Arkansas, fully intending to meet and sexually exploit the minor. Instead, he was arrested moments after arriving at the airport. During interrogation, Harper admitted he traveled across state lines with the sole purpose of engaging in illegal sexual acts with a child he believed to be under 12 years old.

A federal grand jury indicted Harper in January 2016. He later waived trial and entered a guilty plea, avoiding a jury verdict but facing the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines. Assistant United States Attorney Ashleigh Buckley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States, emphasizing the predatory nature of Harper’s actions and the danger he posed to children.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Fort Smith Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities used digital forensics and coordinated surveillance to track Harper’s movements and communications, building a solid case before his arrival in Arkansas. The swift arrest prevented any direct harm to a child, thanks to the undercover operation.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, apprehend, and convict offenders who use the internet to prey on children. Court documents related to the case are available via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at www.pacer.gov. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.