Scottsdale man faces counts of child sex trafficking, wanted to be teen's 'sugar daddy'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (FOX 10) - A Scottsdale man is facing child sex trafficking charges and is now behind bars. Police say he wanted to be a "sugar daddy" to a teenage girl.

64-year-old Richard Vairo is charged with three felony counts of child sex trafficking. He is also accused of trying to get the victim to have sex with his friends.

"I'm not [a] flight risk in any way and I wanted to see if it was possible for you to consider lowering the bail or the band," Vairo said in court. Detectives learned of his alleged relationship with a minor a little more than a year ago.

The La Quinta off the 101 and Shea Blvd. is where police say the 64-year-old had sex with a teenage girl after paying her $300 bucks.

"And now she's attacking me with these charges that are ridiculous and outlandish and not true," Vairo said.

According to a police report, Vairo wanted the victim to be his sugar baby. Police say text messages between the suspect and the victim show Vairo asked when he could see her and if she could meet at his used car lot in Phoenix. He allegedly requested pictures and tried to get the girl to have sex with some of his friends.

Vairo claims the victim set him up to get robbed when the planned to meet at a hotel in late August.

"And her boyfriend and his friend, they put me in the hospital," Vairo said. "16 staples in my head [and they] broke my jaw, robbed me, [and] beat me.

After several months of investigating, police arrested Vairo at his business on Monday.

Police say Vairo claims buying the victim clothing, dinner, and that they hung out in hotel rooms but denied any sexual activity.

Vairo's next court date is scheduled for March 15. Meanwhile, according to a brief statement released by Byron Short with Success Property Brokers late Wednesday afternoon, the company has severed their relationship with Vairo, as of Wednesday.