A multiagency operation in Skagit County arrested 14 individuals in November, including a 50-year-old Renton man, for investigation of sexual abuse and exploitation crimes against children.
The Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force led the investigative effort for crimes including attempted child rape, the sexual exploitation of minors, and communication with minors for immoral purposes, according to a Nov. 12 news release from the Washington State Patrol.
According to a statement from Skagit County prosecutor Rich Weyrich, the investigation, referred to as the “Child Exploitation Operation,” involved “a number of individuals” utilizing social media to “take advantage of … the children of Skagit County.”
The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force targeted persons involved in child abuse and child exploitation via the internet in the operation, according to the state patrol.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving federal, state and local law enforcement agencies including the Renton Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Seattle Police Department and more.
The investigation was the 23rd operation led by the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force since its first operation in 2015.
The 14 individuals arrested included residents from Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Tulalip, Puyallup, Seattle, Lake Stevens and other cities.
According to the news release, the investigation additionally led to the arrest of 50-year-old Ruben Thompson, of Renton.
The Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will review cases to determine potential charges to file.
The primary crimes investigated include attempted rape of a child in the first degree, attempted rape of a child in the second degree, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, and sexual exploitation of a minor.
“We will be aggressively prosecuting these people and holding them accountable for their actions,” Weyrich stated in the release.
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