A Department of Defense police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he traveled to the District in order to have sex with a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District said.
Matthew McMullen, 27, of California, Md., entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the District. He faces a likely sentencing range of 46 to 57 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
Authorities say that on Feb. 4 an undercover officer with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force entered a social network site. McMullen contacted the undercover officer and they began communicating that day by email.
During their conversation, McMullen expressed interest in having sexual contact with an under-aged child. The defendant traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in the District.
When McMullen arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested.
• Matthew Cella can be reached at mcella@washingtontimes.com.
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