A Federal Way man landed in handcuffs at Tacoma's Wapato Park after showing up to what he allegedly thought was a meet-up with a 13-year-old for sex, according to local investigators. He was booked into the Pierce County Jail on May 1 on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, then released a few days later after posting $50,000 bail. Volunteers with a local affiliate of the online group Predator Poachers say they had been messaging the man for months and called police once a meeting was set.
Police say decoys helped set up the arrest
According to The News Tribune, the man was booked into jail on May 1 and released May 4 after posting $50,000 bail. Adam Faber, a spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, told the paper the office has asked Tacoma Police for more information and that "the case is open with no charges filed at this point."
Shelbie Boyd, a spokesperson for the Tacoma Police Department, told The News Tribune that Predator Poachers Washington took part in the Wapato Park sting that led to the man's arrest.
What the charge means
Under Washington law, "communicating with a minor for immoral purposes" is a criminal offense. RCW 9.68A.090 treats it as a gross misdemeanor in many situations, but allows prosecutors to elevate the crime to a class C felony in certain cases, including when electronic communications are involved or when the suspect has prior qualifying convictions. That statute will guide how prosecutors review whatever Tacoma Police ultimately turn over. See the Washington State Legislature for the full text of the law.
How decoy stings and vigilante groups operate
Volunteer "predator hunting" groups typically pose online as minors or as relatives of minors, then wait to see who bites. When conversations turn sexual, they may confront the person on camera or hand chat logs to police, sometimes both. The tactics have sparked plenty of debate. While the groups sometimes surface material that investigators can use, critics say the operations can be biased, veer into harassment and create safety risks for everyone involved.
Reporting on the broader trend shows these vigilante-style stings often go viral, collide with platform rules and raise civil rights questions. For more on how that plays out nationally, see coverage from The Verge.
Prosecutor review and next steps
The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has asked Tacoma Police for additional material before deciding whether to file charges, and officials say the matter remains open and under review. Investigators and the volunteers who posed as decoys have turned their information over to police, and prosecutors will decide whether the evidence meets the bar for formal charges. The News Tribune has reported on the initial arrest and the role the volunteer group played in the case.
