David Job Smith, 28, of Bountiful faces a first-degree felony charge of attempted rape of a child after he allegedly drove roughly 30 miles to meet someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl for sex on Friday, July 31.

The girl did not exist. Smith had been communicating with an undercover Bountiful Police Department officer on Snapchat, according to court documents filed in Davis County District Court.

Smith faces three charges: attempted rape of a child (first-degree felony), enticing a minor (second-degree felony), and obstruction of justice (third-degree felony). Under Utah law, a first-degree felony conviction for attempted rape of a child carries a mandatory prison sentence of at least 25 years and potentially life.

How the sting unfolded

A Bountiful Police Department officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on social media was contacted by the Snapchat account "daviedude_9," later identified as Smith, according to ABC4 Utah. The officer "almost immediately" told Smith the account belonged to a 13-year-old, court documents state. Smith said he still wanted to talk.

"Ok we gotta keep it a secret tho," Smith wrote, according to court documents.

The conversation escalated. Smith allegedly expressed a desire to have sex with the purported minor. When the undercover officer asked if he meant "normal sex," Smith responded, "Yeah do u want that," court documents state.

Smith then traveled to a predetermined meeting location in Herriman, in Salt Lake County, arriving with a condom. Officers arrested him on the spot.

Post-arrest confirmation

After taking Smith into custody, officers conducted a confirmation call and verified that the phone found on Smith was the same device used in the Snapchat conversation with the undercover officer. During a subsequent interview, Smith allegedly admitted he had come to the location to "hook up" with the 13-year-old.

What comes next

The case is filed in Davis County District Court. No next court date or bail status had been publicly released by Saturday, Aug. 1.

Residents who suspect online predatory behavior can contact the Bountiful Police Department.