Police in Vancouver, Wash. say a 20-year-old active-duty U.S. service member has been arrested after meeting teenage girls online and letting them stay in a hotel room registered under his name. Officers reported finding three teenage boys and two girls, all between 13 and 16 years old, inside the room. The girls were taken into protective custody while investigators worked on potential charges.
Vancouver police identified the suspect as Andrew Joseph Guerrero and say detectives learned he had been messaging the teens for about a month before meeting them in person. According to KPTV, Guerrero was booked into the Clark County Jail on six counts of second-degree rape and two counts of first-degree trafficking. Police say he also supplied the girls with alcohol and recorded sexual acts using social media apps.
Legal implications
Under Washington law, causing a person under 18 to engage in a sexually explicit act can be charged as trafficking, and trafficking in the first degree is classified as a class A felony. The state statute lays out the elements and penalties for trafficking and related crimes, including special provisions when victims are minors. The full language is available in RCW 9A.40.100.
Because police say Guerrero is an active-duty service member temporarily working in Portland, the case could involve both civilian prosecution and separate military proceedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The UCMJ gives the military its own disciplinary and court-martial system that can operate alongside civilian criminal cases, a framework outlined by the Congressional Research Service.
What investigators say
Vancouver detectives told KPTV that Guerrero met the youths on social media about a month before the hotel stay, developed relationships with them, and then sexually exploited them while they were living in his hotel room. The investigation remains active, and police say they are not releasing additional details while detectives continue to follow leads.
Pattern in the region
Law enforcement agencies and victim-service groups in the Portland–Vancouver area have reported several recent operations and teen rescues tied to online exploitation. A multi-agency effort this spring that recovered several teenagers raised similar alarms about how social media can be used to groom and traffic young people, as reported by OPB. The outlet and its local partners have urged stronger outreach to vulnerable youth.
Resources and next steps
Vancouver police are urging parents and guardians to keep a close eye on kids’ social media use and to have direct conversations about online risks. Advocates recommend checking privacy settings, watching for sudden changes in friendships or unexplained travel, and reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement.
Survivors and anyone with information can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “BeFree” (233733) for confidential help and referrals. Polaris operates the hotline and maintains additional referral resources.
