A 41-year-old Longview man was arrested after police said he approached a 12-year-old girl in an alley, made inappropriate sexual comments toward her, and grabbed her sweatshirt before a nearby resident intervened. The suspect tried to run when he spotted police the next day, but officers caught him a short distance away and booked him into the Cowlitz County Jail.
Police identified the man as Nathaniel “Nate” Jones of Longview, according to KIRO 7 News. Investigators say the encounter happened near 7th Avenue, as reported by KGW. Jones allegedly told the girl his name during the encounter, information that later helped investigators track him down.
Girl Says Man Followed Her, Asked About Sex and Marijuana
Longview police received the report on September 14, after an adult man allegedly approached the girl in an alley near 7th Avenue and made sexually explicit comments toward her. The girl told police the man asked whether she wanted to have sex or smoke marijuana, then grabbed the sleeve of her sweatshirt when she tried to pull away.
She told him not to touch her and tried to walk away, but he followed her, according to her account to police. A nearby resident witnessed part of the encounter and stepped in, prompting the suspect to leave the area. Investigators later identified the 41-year-old Longview man as a possible suspect, and the girl positively identified him as the man involved once he was in custody, police said.
Suspect Ran, Then Was Caught Nearby
Officers located Jones walking in the 900 block of Vandercook Way near 9th Avenue the following day, September 15. He attempted to flee on foot before police apprehended him nearby, according to Classic Hits 100.7 KLOG. He was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
The allegations remain unproven, and Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Jones is being held at the Cowlitz County Jail.
What the Charges Could Mean
Under Washington law, non-electronic face-to-face communication with a minor for immoral purposes is a gross misdemeanor when the defendant has no prior record and the offense involves simple speech, writing, or a physical act, carrying up to 364 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and mandatory sex offender registration, according to Black Law Seattle. Washington courts have defined “immoral purposes” as conduct that promotes exposing children to sexual misconduct.
The fourth-degree assault charge includes a sexual motivation allegation.
Earlier Longview Arrest
Weeks earlier, officers arrested 46-year-old Bradley Barnes near a local day care for indecent exposure, one of three such reports downtown that day, as Hoodline previously detailed.
The investigation into Jones remains ongoing.
