Soldier accused of sexual online chats with Vancouver girl

A 21-year-old man made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court for allegedly having an online sexual relationship with a girl.

Christopher Esch, an active-duty soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, appeared on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The alleged victim is a 15-year-old Vancouver girl, according to court records.

The two met through Facebook and have been talking for nearly two years, during which time they had multiple conversations about sex, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

On May 9, Esch allegedly sent the girl a video of him and his 20-year-old girlfriend that was sexual in nature. Esch’s girlfriend later discovered that he had sent the video to the girl, confronted him and said she was going to call the police, the affidavit states. Esch assaulted the woman and took her phone, according to the Lakewood Police Department.

Vancouver police later contacted the girl, and she confirmed that Esch had sent her the video. She also said that they had met in person about five times, but she denied having a physical relationship with him, according to court records. Police recovered the video from the girl’s Facebook, along with an extensive sexual chat history between her and Esch, court documents said.

Esch later turned himself in to police.

On Thursday, Judge Scott Collier set Esch’s bail at $5,000. Esch did not qualify for a court-appointed attorney, court records show.

Esch will be arraigned June 16.