Child predator sentenced to 5 years in prison

A local man arrested during a child robbery spree has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Luis Son Gonon was arrested in late June 2023 during an undercover operation by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and the Johnstown Police Department. The 27-year-old son, Gonon, approached investigators to ask him for sex because he believed he was making contact with a 14-year-old girl. After an online interaction, Son Gonon responded to a Larimer County hotel where he was taken into custody. He was booked into the Larimer County Jail and faced the following charges:

• Recruit a child prostitute (F3)
• Attempted patronizing of a child prostitute (F4)
• Cybercrime – recruiting/placing an underage prostitute (F5)
• Attempted sexual assault on a child (F5)

Larimer County Court granted him a $1,000 bond.

Son Gonon pleaded not guilty and the case went to trial in July 2024. A jury found him guilty of soliciting a child prostitute. At the sentencing hearing in September, the district attorney and defense counsel requested intensive supervised sex offender probation. Judge Daniel McDonald ultimately sentenced Son Gonon to five years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

“We will not tolerate child abusers in Larimer County. This heinous crime ruins lives and targets our most vulnerable community members. I greatly appreciate the efforts of our investigative team. If this man had not contacted undercover agents, he could have easily sexually abused a child,” said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen. “I am disappointed that some thought the best solution to protect our children was probation; However, I want to thank Judge McDonald for removing this man from our community and working to protect innocent children from future harm.”