Paralympic skier arrested in online child sex abuse sting

LEHI, Utah (KSL.com) — A Paralympic skier has been arrested in Utah County and accused of trying to sexually abuse two children, although he contends his goal was only to humiliate their mother.

Gilbert Camacho, 24, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of two counts of attempted rape of a child and two counts of attempted sodomy on a child. Camacho, who has a Sandy address listed on his booking sheet, “is also from New Jersey and also advised he is on a Paralympic ski team for Puerto Rico,” according to a police booking affidavit. Additionally, he is listed on the National Ability Center’s website as a member of the alpine ski team.

Police conducting an online undercover operation say Camacho was communicating with someone he thought was the mother of two girls, ages 5 and 8. He then arranged a time and place to meet with the “mother” so he could sexually abuse the children, the affidavit alleges. Police noted that Camacho was sexually explicit about what he wanted to do.

Camacho was arrested when he arrived at the designated meeting location in Lehi. Officers found a gun in his truck as well as specific candy that the undercover officer posing as the mother asked him to bring for her children, according to the affidavit.

When questioned, Camacho claimed to police that he intended “to humiliate and possibly assault the mother as more of a vigilante-type conduct. Gilbert advised that he was going to call police and that he was only saying the things … about him wanting to sexually abuse a 5- and 8-year-old girl to gain trust with the mother so he could meet and confront her,” the affidavit states.

When asked why he brought the candy the undercover agent requested, Camacho claimed he was going to give it to the mother “prior to humiliating her and filming his vigilante conduct. Gilbert advised he was associated with a group called ‘Miami Avengers’ who find individuals engaged in trying to meet children for sex and humiliating and assault them, then post the videos on social media. Gilbert stated he never intended on sexually abusing the children,” according to the affidavit.

Camacho also claimed that due to not having any legs and other disabilities, he was not capable of sexually assaulting a child in the way he allegedly described in messages to the undercover officer, the arrest report says.

Because of the messages he allegedly sent the undercover officer, however, Camacho was arrested, and police have requested that he be held in the Utah County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending the filing of formal charges.