PHOENIX (AP) - Authorities say a 26-year-old man is accused of posing as a teenager online in an attempt to meet minors for sex in the Phoenix area.
Phoenix police say Jake Stephen Pettenger is facing felony charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation, computer tampers and aggravated assault.
They say would-be victims reported luring attempts after online encounters with Pettenger.
Detectives with the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tracked down Pettenger and served a search warrant on his Glendale home.
Police say Pettenger admitted he created fake social media profiles on which he claimed to be a 13-year-old.
He then allegedly used those profiles to lure minors for sex.
In the course of their investigation, police say detectives learned Pettenger allegedly assaulted a female acquaintance and seriously injured her.