Florida man, 35, charged for sexually exploiting Utah girl via social media

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Florida man is facing several charges in Utah after allegedly communicating with a young girl through social media and continuing to communicate with her after knowing she was a minor. Officials have requested that a no-bail arrest warrant be issued.

Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, is facing six charges, including two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, both first-degree felonies; one count of enticement of a minor, a class A misdemeanor; and three counts of criminal solicitation, all class A misdemeanors.

Charging documents allege that Menard — who “has no connection to Utah” — was communicating with a girl in Utah who was reported missing in April 2025. Menard was identified after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found a social media account for the victim that showed she was communicating with the suspect.

“[Menard] verified at different points throughout his conversation with [the victim] that he was aware [she] was a minor,” charging documents state.

Documents allege that Menard had asked if the victim was “secretly 15,” to which she reportedly said “[y]eppers I’m actually in middle school.” Documents also said that Menard’s conversations with the victim were “largely sexual in nature.”

Even after learning that the girl was underage, Menard continued with the sexual conversations and asked the victim to send him inappropriate photos and videos.

Charging documents said Menard and the victim “discussed in detail about meeting each other in Las Vegas.” The suspect reportedly communicated with the victim while he was based in Florida.

Charges were filed on Friday, May 16. The State of Utah has requested that a no-bail arrest warrant be issued and said Menard “is a substantial danger to other people in the community.”

There is no further information at this time.