SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY TRIED SEDUCING TASK FORCE AGENTS WITH SEX
By: Sachet A. Sullivan
Taylor Matthew Button, 28, was arrested yesterday and booked into the Iron County Jail following an online undercover operation by agents with the Iron-Garfield-Beaver Narcotics Task Force.
According to court records filed in the 5th District Court, the task force began investigating Button after receiving tips that he had allegedly returned to using and selling methamphetamine and fentanyl, indicating he was known to be a drug user.
While searching a phone in a subsequent investigation, police discovered text messages from Sunday, January 19th, that appeared to show Button attempting to trade “blues” for methamphetamine.
“Blues is a street name for fentanyl pills” the affidavit states.
In the conversation, the other person informed Button that they didn’t have any meth and offered to “smoke him out,” a term often used by drug users to mean sharing narcotics when one of them is out.
The affidavit also reveals that investigators saw text messages suggesting Button was trying to sell Suboxone, a Schedule 3 drug.
Court records show that on January 17th, Button reached out to task force agents via a female Facebook profile on Facebook Messenger, believing he was talking to a young woman. The agents went along with the conversation.
During the exchange, Button allegedly began flirting with the agents, believing the person he was speaking to was 16 years old.
When agents reportedly informed Button that he was talking to a 16-year-old girl, he responded with “scawy” and quickly stated that he was 28 years old.
“It’s not bad” said to Button, “but against the law” Button responded. “If you follow it” the agents replied.
Button reportedly then sent his snapchat username to the agents and stated “snap”.
“At this point, I knew the only reason Taylor wanted to continue talking on Snap was to hide our messages, as it is more secure,” the affidavit explains.
Once communication shifted to Snapchat, Button allegedly began asking agents for pictures and “surprises.”
Button reportedly sent agents sexually explicit images and asked them to send pictures in return.
Additionally, Button invited the agents to “hang out.” When asked what they would be doing, Button responded with “hang in or hang out,” implying sexual activity.
After the text exchange, agents applied for a search warrant for Button’s home and vehicle.
During the search, agents found and seized various narcotics and paraphernalia, including THC products, a vial containing an unknown substance, anabolic steroids, and a straw believed to have been used for smoking narcotics.
A prescription for suboxone was also seized during the search. Button was attempting to sell them through text messages.
The court documents show that Button admitted he would test positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl, acknowledging that he had used both substances in the days leading up to his arrest.
Reportedly, Button also admitted to purchasing the steroids online.
When agents inquired about the nude photos and texts with the 16-year-old girl, he claimed that he talks to numerous people.
Button ceased all communication with investigators after he requested an attorney upon learning police told him they “had pictures of his penis.”
Button is facing a second-degree felony charge for possession with intent to distribute, as well as four third-degree felonies for enticing a minor for sexual activity, distributing harmful materials to a minor, and possession of a controlled substance.
Additionally, Button is charged with three class A misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and enticing a minor for sexual activity, along with one class B misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records also reveal that Button has an extensive criminal history that the arresting officer argued makes him a threat to the public.
The affidavit notes, “It is concerning that he mentioned talking to a lot of people online. It remains unclear if there are additional victims. He also works in concrete on new construction sites for family homes, which raises further concerns about his sexual behavior, especially with children living in those areas.”
INDIVIDUALS LISTED ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN BOOKED INTO IRON COUNTY JAIL AND ARE ACCUSED OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES BUT ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
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