Mesa County man, 56, arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child

MESA COUNTY, Colo. — A 56-year-old Whitewater man has been arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of a child, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

According to the sheriff’s office, Richard Lemus intended to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex. Lemus reportedly thought he was chatting with a girl online, but instead, he allegedly communicated with an undercover investigator.

Lemus was arrested on September 19 for luring a child via internet/intent to engage in sexual contact/exploitation (Class 4 felony), sexual assault – sexual exploitation of a child via internet (Class 4 felony), criminal attempt (Class 5 felony) and sexual assault of a child. He was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on a $20,000 cash-only bond.