Arizona man arraigned on charge of attempted child enticement

MISSOULA - An Arizona man with ties to Missoula, accused of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, appeared today for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Manuel Flores, 71, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. The maximum penalties for the offense are ten years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Flores was detained pending further proceedings.

The indictment alleges that on or between June 2024 and August 17, 2025, at Missoula, in Missoula County, in the State and District of Montana, and elsewhere, including Arizona, the defendant, MANUEL FLORES, knowingly used a means of interstate commerce, including the internet and a cellular phone, to attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce any individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney is prosecuting the case. The FBI's Montana Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Missoula County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

The charging document is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Anyone who has information about possible crimes committed by Flores, or the physical or online exploitation of any children, are encouraged to call the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office at (801) 579-1400 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

PACER case reference. 25-41.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit https://http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court's calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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