Michael GillilandPHOENIX (CBS5) -
A grocery store magnate arrested in a teen prostitution sting in February 2011 pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to commit pandering.
Michael Gilliland was arrested just after noon 1 1/2 years ago at a hotel on Interstate 17, north of the Dunlap exit in Phoenix.
Investigators said Gilliland was looking to pay an undercover agent, posing as a 17-year-old girl, $100 for sex.
According to the report on the investigation, while Gilliland was soliciting sex over the internet, he was repeatedly told his date was 17.
He was charged with one felony count of child prostitution.
Gilliland founded Sunflower Farmers Market, which has 35 retail stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Texas.
He resigned as the company's CEO in February 2011 after he was arrested.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 9.
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