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A Salem, Missouri man pled guilty to three counts of the attempted enticement of a child less than 15 years of age. 

40-year-old James Thomas Swinney plead guilty Tuesday in Boone County Court.

The conviction stems from an investigation that started in February 2010 when a Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force investigator posed as a 14-year-old Boone County girl in an internet chat room. 

Police say Swinney contacted the decoy girl multiple times between late February and early April 2010. Detectives said Swinney solicited the decoy teen to engage in sexual conduct with him.

Detectives said at the time of this incident, Swinney was living in Rolla.

In October 2010, Swinney turned himself in. Tuesday in court, Swinney was sentenced to five years in prison for each count, to be served concurrently.

Earlier this month, Swinney also entered a guilty plea for the enticement of a child in Christian County Circuit Court and was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.  Meanwhile, in St. Charles County; the defendant is charged with the enticement of a child. That case is still pending.