Wenatchee, WA – Thirteen individuals were arrested last week in a multi-agency child exploitation sting spanning Spokane and surrounding areas, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
The two-day investigation, dubbed “Operation Liberty Lake,” was led by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Officials said the coordinated effort brought together local, state, and federal law enforcement to target individuals allegedly attempting to solicit sex from minors.
According to the sheriff’s office, Chelan County Detective Sergeant Brian Lewis served as a team leader in the operation, while Detective Cy Bowthorpe helped secure key search warrants. The arrests reportedly occurred within the typical driving range of Chelan County, where authorities say known offenders are often active.
“Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community remains a top priority,” Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a statement. “We are proud to support operations like this and will continue working with our partners to combat these heinous crimes.”
The operation led to 13 arrests and one pending federal indictment. Charges under investigation include:
- Rape of a child in the first degree – attempt (RCW 9A.44.073)
- Rape of a child in the second degree – attempt (RCW 9A.44.076)
- Communication with a minor for immoral purposes (RCW 9.68A.090)
- Sexual exploitation of a minor (RCW 9.68A.040)
Authorities are urging anyone with information about additional victims or suspects to contact MECTF at mectf@wsp.wa.gov.
