Man Advised of Rights in Internet Sex Case
By Anthony A. Mestas, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
May 5–LA JUNTA — A Grand Junction man, who was arrested on suspicion of Internet luring of a child and known to many in his town as “Giggles the Clown” was advised of his rights Friday in Otero County Court.
Antonio Lazcano, 29, is facing charges of Internet sexual exploitation of a child, Internet luring of a child, enticement and obscenity for allegedly having sexually explicit conversations with a person posing as a 12-year-old child.
Lazcano was arrested Monday on a warrant out of Otero County. He is being held on a $5,000 bond in the Otero County jail.
Lazcano appeared before Judge Douglas Manley through closed-circuit television from jail.
Lazcano’s arrest came following a six-month investigation by the Otero County Sheriff’s Department and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
According to an arrest affidavit, in November 2006, a 12-year-old Rocky Ford girl had allegedly received e-mails with nude photographs and sexually explicit content from Lazcano at her home in Otero County.
Shortly after, the 12-year-old’s mother Lisa Doney, of Rocky Ford, set up a Yahoo Internet profile stating that she was an 11-year-old girl from Colorado to build evidence against Lazcano.
On April 2, an Internet chat between the Doney’s Internet account and Lazcano began. The chat conversation was recorded and had several explicit phrases allegedly written by Lazcano.
On April 4, a chat conversation again took place. This time Lazcano, who was allegedly using the screen name tony805, wrote that he would make arrangements to see her within the next month.
Doney, who was present in court Friday, said she is frustrated about how difficult it was to get the alleged predator arrested.
“It took the sheriff’s department six months. It wasn’t until a news reporter stepped in and asked about this case before they did something,” Doney said.
“I am just glad that he is in jail now,” she added.
Doney said she chatted with Lazcano three or four different times.
“He didn’t know it was the same person — he was doing it to all of them. It makes me sick,” Doney said.
In Grand Junction, Lazcano lives across the street from Dos Rios Elementary School. “I hope they get him and I hope they get him good,” Doney said.
Lazcano is scheduled to be charged before District Judge Michael Shiferl on May 10.
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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