A Spokane man who used Craigslist babysitting ads to zero in on teenage girls has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Prosecutors say William Scott Morse pleaded guilty to federal child sex trafficking charges and is also set to enter a state plea in Spokane County on a rape charge. According to investigators, Morse offered one teen $320 for sex, then went to her home, where the victim was 15 and sexual contact took place.
How Investigators Say He Groomed Teens
Prosecutors say the scheme started in late September 2024, when a 15-year-old posted a Craigslist babysitting ad and noted she was CPR-certified. Morse allegedly responded with explicit messages describing sex acts he would pay for, ultimately offering $320 and traveling to her home. Authorities say he also contacted a 16-year-old, who turned him down, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Officials Respond
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Seattle field office, called Morse "a threat to the community who persistently targeted innocent and vulnerable teens looking for babysitting jobs online," according to a post from FBI Seattle. Local prosecutors said the outcome highlights close cooperation between federal and county investigators who tracked Morse's online activity and built the case.
Sentence And Next Steps
On May 6, 2026, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice sentenced Morse to 300 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, after Morse pleaded guilty to federal sex trafficking offenses. Under a global plea agreement, he will also plead guilty in Spokane County to Rape of a Child in the Third Degree (RCW 9A.44.079(1)). First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano said "the impact of an offense like this extends beyond the child victims themselves to the entire community," and Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam praised the partnership between local and federal agencies, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Investigation And Prosecution
The FBI and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office led the investigation. The federal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perez, while Scott Donahue handled the related state case for the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Authorities say the global plea is intended to resolve both the federal and state proceedings tied to Morse's online solicitation of minors.
Legal Implications
Federal child sex trafficking convictions carry lengthy prison sentences and long-term supervised release. In Morse's case, the combination of a 25-year federal term and his planned state plea means he faces serious criminal exposure at both levels. Officials say the case is a stark reminder of how offenders can exploit ordinary classified ads to identify and groom vulnerable young people.
Authorities urge parents and caregivers to be cautious with online babysitting arrangements: thoroughly vet applicants, meet candidates with another adult present, and report suspicious messages or offers to local law enforcement or the FBI. Anyone with information related to this case can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington or the FBI Seattle field office.
