BOISE, Idaho – Mark William Sharp, 42, of Boise, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 60 months for attempting to exploit a minor. Sharp received the sentence yesterday in U.S. District Court, followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. The conviction also mandates Sharp register as a sex offender – a permanent mark for a predator who thought he could hide behind a screen.
The case unfolded last November when Sharp posted a brazen advertisement on a dating website, explicitly stating that “age and status” were irrelevant. This wasn’t a search for companionship; it was a calculated attempt to prey on vulnerability. The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force caught wind of the ad and deployed an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl.
According to court records, Sharp quickly engaged with the detective, sending increasingly suggestive messages in an attempt to entice her into a sexual encounter. He didn’t stop there. He boldly requested the “14-year-old” send him a photograph in underwear – a clear indication of his predatory intent. The detective played along, agreeing to a meeting and providing an address.
Sharp arrived at the designated location, believing he was about to meet a child for sex. Instead, he was met with handcuffs. The ICAC task force moved in, arresting him and ending his depraved scheme. Sharp pleaded guilty on March 11, 2019, admitting to his attempt to cross state lines to commit this heinous act.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge David C. Nye handed down the sentence, sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office are working together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute these predators.
The internet offers anonymity, but it doesn’t offer immunity. Law enforcement is actively monitoring online activity to protect children. If you suspect a child is being exploited, report it immediately. Resources and information about internet safety can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc. Don’t look the other way – a child’s safety may depend on it.
RELATED: Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography
RELATED: Nampa Man Gets 30 Months for Child Porn
Related Federal Cases
- Hazelton Predator Brower Gets 9 Years · Massachusetts
- Caldwell Predator Asker Gets 5 Years for Enticing a Minor · Idaho
- Bogus Papers & Boise Hotels: Ospina Gets Time Served · Idaho
- Hells Angels’ Bud Runner Gets 12 Years · Washington
- Boise Man Fazliddin Kurbanov Busted: Federal Terrorism Charges in Idaho & Utah · Utah
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News