Phoenix man sentenced to 10 years for attempting to lure teen

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man was sentenced to 10 years for trying to lure a minor for sexual exploitation, according to authorities.

Aaron Adan Salazar, 56, will serve the sentence day for day without the possibility of being let out early for good behavior, according to Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane.

“Anyone who tries to lure a child for sexual purposes belongs in prison,” McGrane said. “I want to commend Sheriff Rhodes and the excellent detectives at the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office for catching this predator before he could harm a real child.”

Salazar was sentenced on Feb. 20 by a Yavapai County Superior Court judge.

What did the Phoenix man sentenced for trying to lure a minor do?

Salazar sent sexual messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl named Claire in November 2025, according to the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.

However, it was a fictitious profile set up by detectives with the sheriff’s office.

Despite “Claire” saying she was a minor several times, he repeatedly solicited the account for nude photos and sex acts, even going so far as to say he wished he met her when she was 11 because that was a “bucket list thing” for him, prosecutors said.

“Rest assured, if you do this in Yavapai County, you will be prosecuted and go to prison,” McGrane said. “I encourage parents to talk to their children about the dangers of communicating with people on the internet.”

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