BULLHEAD CITY – A local judge pushed back at some comments made by, and on behalf of one of the defendants snared in a sting operation targeting adults preying upon minors for sex. Jesse Rubi, 42, was sentenced June 26 after previously pleading guilty to a charge reduced to attempted luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
Rubi is among nine men arrested for engaging in electronic communication with an adult undercover officer pretending to be a teenager who agreed to meet for sex for pay in late Jan. His father criticized the law enforcement operation as entrapment of his son.
“To put the stigma of a pedophile on him for life is a travesty,” the father said.
“I made a huge mistake, a huge, huge mistake,” Rubi said, telling judge Billy Sipe his involvement is an aberration. “This isn’t me.”
“This really is you,” Sipe responded, further noting the sting operation targeting sexual predators is supported by the law. “This isn’t anybody forcing, tricking or entrapping you.”
Sipe ordered 240 days jail and lifelong probation for Rubi.
