Police: Cedar Rapids man attempted to meet 15-year-old for sex on dating app

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man was arrested last week after police say he attempted to persuade, entice, coerce or solicit a law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old girl on a dating app into performing sexual acts.

Tanner Michael Burkle, 33, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and grooming, both felonies. The former is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, and the latter by up to five years in prison and a fine of $750 to $7,500.

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According to a criminal complaint, in August Burkle began messaging a fake profile for a 15-year-old girl on a dating app that was being operated by a Cedar Rapids police officer. After being told the person in the profile was 15, Burkle continued to send messages and asked to be sent sexually explicit photos and video of the girl, and invited her to his residence to have sex, the complaint states.

Confronted by police, Burkle admitted to the officer that he had contact with a 15-year-old but that the 15-year-old instigated the conversations, according to the complaint.

He had his first appearance in court Saturday and was being held at the Linn County Jail on a $6,500 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday in Linn County District Court.

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