ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A St. Louis County man arrested in an undercover sting into sex trafficking of children has pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Prosecutors announced the guilty plea Thursday for 24-year-old David Hawkey of Florissant. Sentencing is March 11. Attorneys for Hawkey did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Hawkey was among three men arrested in the sting in July. Matthew Nichol previously pleaded guilty and will be sentenced Dec. 11.
The third suspect, the Rev. James Grady, is scheduled for trial March 1. The 58-year-old is a Catholic priest suspended with pay by the Archdiocese of St. Louis pending the outcome of his case.
In the sting, undercover police placed Internet ads offering young women for sex. Authorities say Hawkey sought to purchase sex with a 14-year-old girl.
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