Multi-agency child exploitation operation nets 14 arrests over the weekend in Skagit County

Law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies arrested 14 individuals over the weekend of Nov. 8-10 in Skagit County as part of an operation to identify individuals suspected of being involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

Two of the arrested individuals reside in Whatcom County.

The multi-day operation involved the Washington State Patrol (WSP), local Skagit County law enforcement agencies and several partner agencies, according to a WSP news release issued Tuesday afternoon.

None of the suspects had been charged as of Nov. 12. WSP said the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will review the cases to determine which potential criminal charges will be filed.

The news release lists four crimes involved:

First-degree attempted rape of a child

Second-degree attempted rape of a child

Communication with a minor for immoral purposes

Sexual Exploitation of a minor

WSP provided no details regarding the operation or arrests.

"On behalf of the citizens of Skagit County I would like to thank state, federal and local law enforcement for their work in the successful apprehension of a number of individuals who were attempting to take advantage of our most vulnerable-the children of Skagit County. I am hopeful that this operation will send a message and deter others from trying to use social media for their own deviant activities," Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich said in the news release. "We will be aggressively prosecuting these people and holding them accountable for their actions. We will remain vigilant in attempting to identify and bring to justice others who would engage in these activities."

Among the arrested is a 25-year-old man from Bellingham and a 37-year-old man from Ferndale. The suspects range in age from 25 to 62, and authorities also arrested residents of Sedro-Wolley, Mount Vernon, Seattle, Burlington, Puyallup, Lake Stevens, Everett, Tulalip, Edmonds and Renton.

The operation was the 23rd spearheaded by the WSP's Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate, according to the WSP release.

The news release cites the efforts of individuals at 12 regional police departments, including those in Bellingham, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, as well as the FBI, Homeland Security, WSP, and the Sheriff's Offices in Kittitas and Skagit counties.