A Colorado man who blackmailed young girls into sending him lewd photos will spend at least the next 18 years in prison.
Zachary Myers, 23, was sentenced to 18 years to life on Monday for collecting photos of naked, underage girls in Jefferson County. He also forced a girl to perform a sex act.
Myers was convicted in December 2017 of sexual assault with force, sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault on a child, internet sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a child, two counts of stalking, false imprisonment and third-degree assault.
Myers, who also has been named a suspect in similar crimes in Weld and Denver counties, met the 14-year-old victim in Jefferson County through the popular social media site Kik in September 2015.
Prosecutors say he tracked down her cell phone number and the pair started texting. He initially told her he was only 16 years old, and as the conversation progressed, sent her naked photos.
The victim told police Myers showed up at her house one day, followed her into an empty park and forced her to have oral sex. At one point she broke free and ran away.
The cases against Myers in Denver and Weld counties are still pending.
