A 20-year-old Michigan man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two girls while staying in their home under the guise of being a 14-year-old boy with no where to go.
Ethan R. Dekalita pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree criminal conduct and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes on Dec. 2 in Tuscola County, mLive reported. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty for Dekalita, who has a history of sexual assault.
Police records obtained by mLive reveal Dekalita befriended a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat, introducing himself as "Ethan Martinez." During a visit to the girl's home, Dekalita claimed to have a family emergency and was permitted to stay overnight. However, after several days, the girl's parents contacted law enforcement, concerned that their guest, who they believed to be fourteen, had been unable to contact his family.
The ruse unraveled when Michigan State Police questioned Dekalita, who gave evasive answers and false information about his birthdate, name, parents, and residence. Using his cellphone to obtain contact information for his parents, police spoke with Dekalita's mother who revealed he was born in 2004 and had been to jail for a sexual assault he committed when he was 16.
As Dekalita was taken into custody, the 14-year-old girl shared with police that she met Dekalita on Snapchat and indicated they had sexual contact. Police also learned the girl's 12-year-old sister was allegedly sexually assaulted by Dekalita during his stay.
Dekalita later admitted to police that he had fabricated his identity to gain access to the family's home, and confessed to sending lewd images to what he estimated to be 20 females of various ages on Snapchat.
"It is important to note while Ethan was telling me about his past, he explained the sexual assaults as if he was gloating about it. He smiled, laughed, and made jokes," the trooper's report reads.
Dekalita remains in custody, awaiting sentencing.
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