Byron Man Snared in Juvenile Sex Sting Investigation Pleads Guilty

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Byron man has admitted to a felony charge in connection with an investigation into the online solicitation of minors.

49-year-old William Douglas Pirkl was charged in April of last year with solicitation of a child or person believed to be a child, engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with the child, and distributing material relating or describing sexual conduct to a child. He was accused of contacting a Rochester police officer posing online as a 14-year-old girl and sending nude photos of himself after engaging the officer in a sexual conversation through a social media app.

Officer Identified as a 14 Year Old Girl

According to the criminal complaint, Pirkl asked the undercover officer for her age and was told that she was 14 years old. It also noted that the Byron man had contact with law enforcement the previous summer when he was accused of showing an employee of a store a photo of his genitals.

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The court document details a series of sexually explicit online communications allegedly between Pirkl and the undercover officer. It was also alleged that he sent multiple photos of his genitals and asked to arrange a meeting with the juvenile girl.

Arrested at Rochester Restaurant

The criminal complaint says Pirkl was arrested after arriving at a restaurant near a northwest Rochester school after arranging a meeting for the purpose of a sexual encounter. His cell phone was confiscated after he was taken into custody.

Plea Deal

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Pirkl pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with the child in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges against him.

He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.