Five men are now facing charges after Seattle police say they showed up in West Seattle expecting to meet teenage girls for sex, only to find undercover officers waiting instead. Investigators say the men had been chatting online with people they believed were minors, not knowing they were actually talking to detectives working a targeted child-exploitation sting.
According to charging documents reviewed by KING 5, each of the five men exchanged messages with undercover officers posing as 14- and 15-year-old girls, agreed to pay for sex and then showed up at a prearranged location in West Seattle carrying cash. Prosecutors have charged them with counts including communication with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
How the undercover operation worked
Seattle Police told KING 5 the sting was part of citywide efforts to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and teens. Officers set up decoy online profiles, arranged apparent meetups and then moved in when suspects arrived at the agreed-upon spots. Investigators say the goal was to identify and detain adults who took concrete steps toward an in-person encounter with someone they believed to be a minor.
What the charges mean in Washington
Under Washington law, communication with a minor for immoral purposes is codified at RCW 9.68A.090, while commercial sexual abuse of a minor is addressed in RCW 9.68A.100 and related sections. Those statutes allow prosecutors to file felony charges when an adult takes substantial steps toward sexual contact with someone they believe is underage. In sting operations like this one, charging documents typically lay out a trail of online messages and a planned in-person meeting to show that intent.
What’s next and how to report tips
The cases will be prosecuted by King County and move through the county court system, where judges will set bail and schedule the first hearings. Members of the public or reporters with questions can contact the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. For non-emergencies, the city directs callers to its CARE Communications Center at (206) 625-5011. If someone needs immediate assistance, they should call 911.
Context
Proactive decoy stings like this are a common tool for law enforcement agencies trying to stop the sexual exploitation of minors before abuse occurs, and similar multi-arrest sweeps have been reported in other cities. Recent coverage, including a hotel sting where cops posing as mom bust 5 in Miami, underscores how departments are increasingly relying on online decoys to disrupt demand for commercial sex involving minors.
