Lieutenant Matthew Mahl, from the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department, pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of a minor after arranging to meet who he believed was a 15-year-old boy. He was caught in an on-camera sting operation by Harford County Sheriff's Office in Maryland in April.
Sting operation details
Mahl had exchanged sexually explicit messages with an officer posing as a teenager online, including pictures of his genitals, according to court documents. He gave his real name and revealed he was a lieutenant involved in escorting the president; some photographs allegedly showed him in police uniform.
He turned up at the home on April 14, expecting to meet the teen after school, but was greeted by armed officers and Chris Hansen, former presenter of To Catch A Predator. During the video sting, Hansen read parts of the chat log, which included Mahl offering to take the boy for 'cheese steaks', a trip to Italy, and telling him he would 'meet the monster at the end of the happy trail'.
Arrest and suspension
Mahl, 47, refused to answer questions on camera, repeatedly saying: "I'm not answering any questions until I speak to an attorney." He was arrested at the scene and suspended by Washington DC Metropolitan Police the same day. The sting video, released in May, has since had more than 1.4 million views on social media.
Case progress
Prosecutors said Mahl discussed the 15-year-old's age during the conversation and spoke of the risk of being caught. After his guilty plea, Judge Elizabeth Bowen at Harford County Circuit Court ordered a psychiatric evaluation before his sentencing on September 30.
