A 26-year-old man was arrested for paying a child for sex after police investigated him for allegedly masturbating outside of Canyon View High School in Buckeye.
Michael Armijo is facing one count of child sex trafficking with a minor aged 15 to 17 years, a class two felony, one count of sexual conduct with a minor, a class two felony, and one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation, a class three felony, according to the county’s prosecuting attorney.
Buckeye police detained Armijo during a traffic stop yesterday morning near his Buckeye home.
The arrest stems from an investigation by Canyon View’s school resource officer, which began after two female students reported allegedly seeing Armijo masturbating in the car parked next to them in their campus parking lot on May 15 after school.
Armijo allegedly returned to the scene on Wednesday, which prompted the SRO to pull over and question the suspect, who claimed he was dropping off a student.
After denying the indecent exposure incident, Armijo was cited for a suspended license and issued a trespass notice banning him from campus.
Police questioned the 15-year-old female Armijo referenced in the questioning. She told investigators that he approached her May 9 when she was leaving school and offered her a ride home.
“Before taking her home, the suspect took her back to a campus parking lot where he had sexual contact with her,” Buckeye police state, in a press release.
Armijo was previously questioned for an indecent exposure allegation that occurred April 30 outside the Fry’s in Verrado.
Court Appearance
Armijo said he was targeted in his initial court appearance yesterday at 11 p.m.
“I want to say I'm not a threat to anybody,” he said. “I feel like I was more of a target than I was targeting anybody based on the conversations I had with the lady in the parking lot or at the school.”
Armijo also told the judge he wanted to return to his wife and daughter.
“The bond is going to remain what it is tonight, and part of your release conditions does include no contact with minors,” the judge responded. “So, if there's a minor in your home, you must find an alternative residence while this case is pending.”
The prosecutor recommended a $150,000 cash bond with electronic monitoring due to Armijo's history of public indecency and solicitation of a minor.
Armijo's defense requested a $50,000 secured bond, citing his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with police.
The judge imposed a $100,000 cash bond, requiring electronic monitoring and prohibiting contact with minors, including his daughter. Armijo will remain in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office custody until he can post bond.
If Armijo posts bond, he is forbidden from returning to the scene of the alleged crime and may not contact any alleged victim, complainant or witness. He is also prohibited from using the Internet through any electronic means.
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