A Portland man's lurid ambitions were foiled when he was nabbed by law enforcement at a Seattle hotel, with the alleged intent to commit horrid acts against children. Marc David McCool, age 56, stands accused of plotting to sexually abuse minors, aged 7 and 11. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington, McCool was apprehended on May 16, after Homeland Security Investigations and the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force caught him in a sting operation.
Couriered by train and rideshare to a carefully orchestrated rendezvous, McCool was allegedly in possession of condemnable tools of his trade: condoms, baby oil, rope, and the innocent imagery of stuffed animals. He had engaged in extensive communication over the Kik Messenger App, detailing his perverse interests and past transgressions, or so say the authorities. McCool, who allegedly believed he was to meet children for unspeakable acts, was instead greeted by agents of justice, as described in court records.
The sting operation that led to McCool's arrest sprang from his response to an undercover ad. Over six weeks, he wove a disturbing narrative of his predilections, even going as far as to discuss “trophies” from his alleged past victims. Information from the U.S. Attorney's Office reveals that McCool made arrangements for the vile visit, unsuspecting of the trap that awaited him in Seattle.
The charges against McCool are grave, with attempted enticement of a minor carrying a sentence of at least 10 years to life imprisonment and travel with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, punishable by up to 30 years. While these charges remain allegations until proven in court, the weight of the evidence stands formidable against McCool. The investigation was a joint effort of Homeland Security Investigation and the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
