A Durango man was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to internet luring of a child.

Police say Dustin Lowell Morris, who was 43 at the time of his arrest in February, planned to meet for sexual purposes with a fake 14-year-old persona created by the Durango Police Department.

Morris was one of three Durango men arrested in a DPD operation that posted fake ads online in an attempt to elicit responses from people interested in sexual contact with a child.

On Friday, Morris was sentenced to 45 days in jail followed by 45 days of electronic home monitoring. His jail sentence is set to start Jan. 4, 2021. After serving jail time, he will be on probation for three years. He is also required to register as a sex offender.

“This is a serious offense,” said Judge Todd Norvell. “Yes, the 14-year-old girl turned out to not be a real 14-year-old girl, but Mr. Morris took a lot of steps toward meeting a 14-year-old girl, and by all indications, would have followed through.”

Last week, another man arrested in the operation, Oscar Ramiro Contreras, 30, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years’ probation after also pleading guilty.

The third man, Benjamin Molyneux, 44, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30.

jromeo@durangoherald.com