EX-COP GETS PROBATION IN ONLINE STING

PFMLIT General, GOOD POLICING CATCHES SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS, INTERNET OFFENDER CASES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, NEW YORK, SENTENCING, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST

David Mena, a 25 year old rookie New York City cop, was arrested by Suffolk police January 24, 2007, for allegedly attempting to have sex with a 14 year old girl.  He emailed the girl naked pictures of himself and chatted explicitly with who he thought was the teenage girl.  The girl turned out to be an undercover Suffolk police officer, which led to Mena's arrest.  He was charged with attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor.

Mena, who admitted to sending the graphic photos to an undercover police officer, was sentenced on May 6, 2008, to five years' probation.  Last fall Mena pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor.

(New York)