MOUNT VERNON — Fourteen men were arrested over the course of four days during a child exploitation operation conducted in Skagit County.
The men, who were arrested Friday through Monday, made their first court appearances Tuesday afternoon.
According to a news release from the State Patrol, which conducted the operation with help from local law enforcement, the primary crimes allegedly committed were attempted first-degree rape of a child, attempted second-degree rape of a child, communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual exploitation of a minor.
“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,” Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Rich Weyrich said in the release.
“I am hopeful that this operation will send a message and deter others from trying to use social media for their own deviant activities. 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,” he said.
The men arrested were from Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. They ranged in age from 25 to 62.
The operation, dubbed Child Exploitation Operation, was the 23rd spearheaded by the State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force.
Since the first such operation in August 2015, 348 arrests have been made.
“Every day, members of the Mount Vernon Police Department strive to make our city safe and livable for everyone, especially those who are the most vulnerable,” Mount Vernon Police Chief Daniel Christman said in the release. “Efforts like the Child Exploitation Operation are remarkable because it intercepts adults who target children for sexual gratification.”
According to Skagit County jail records, all of the arrests were made in Skagit County by the State Patrol. Among the arrest locations were the Skagit Playfields and Edgewater Park, both of which are in Mount Vernon.
The operation targets those involved in child abuse and child exploitation via the internet.
The operation involved about 60 law enforcement officers, agents and staff from 19 agencies.
Included among those agencies were the Anacortes Police Department, the Burlington Police Department, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Sedro-Woolley Police Department, the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.
