State v. Richard Perez (072624)

Judge CUFF

(temporarily assigned) delivered the opinion of the Court.

In April 2011, defendant Richard Perez pled guilty to child luring and endangering the welfare of a child. During the plea colloquy, the State introduced text messages in which defendant expressed a desire to engage in explicit sexual activity with the thirteen-year-old victim. The messages, however, did not propose a specific meeting time or place. In response to leading questions from counsel, defendant admitted that he had “attempt[ed] to lure a child whose initials are N.C. to a place where the two of [them] might engage…