12 Men Caught In Child Sex Sting In Tacoma

TACOMA, WA - Twelve men from across Puget Sound and beyond were arrested in a recent Washington State Patrol child sexual exploitation sting dubbed "net nanny," the department has announced. In the operation, state police pretended to be children and communicated through text messages and the Internet with men who were allegedly seeking sex. This is the seventh "net nanny" sting in recent years, and the program has nabbed 86 suspects total.

The 12 men arrested in this most recent operation were picked up on charges ranging from first-degree attempted rape of a child to possession of child pornography. They were arrested when they went to meet state police detectives posing as young girls and boys. In addition to the arrests, state police say they located two children who were at risk of being abused.

Those arrested and charged in Pierce County on Monday include:

• Petueru L. Namulauti, 50, of Tacoma; charged with attempted second-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• Brad L. Henry, 60, of Shelt0n; charged with second-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• Christopher T. D. Gartside, 27; charged with attempted first-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• John F. Schliep, 47, of Tacoma; charged with attempted first-degree child rape; attempted second-degree child rape; and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• Erik W Tanson, 48, of Gig Harbor; charged with attempted second-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• Fletcher Kilpatrick, 36, of Kent; charged with DWI and attempted first-degree child rape
• Kyle C. Weaver; charged with attempted first-degree child rape; attempted second-degree child rape; and commercial sex abuse of a minor
• James L. Carter, 56, of Lacey; charged with attempted second-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• James D. Willam, 58, of Renton; attempted first-degree child rape; attempted second-degree child rape; and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes
• Hugo Pena Ramirez, 35, Tacoma; attempted first-degree child rape; attempted second-degree child rape; additionally, an immigration hold was placed on Ramirez
• Thomas J. Hilli, 50, of Lakewood; charged with attempted second-degree child rape; and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes

The final man arrested - a 26-year-old from Puyallup - had not been arraigned as of Monday afternoon.

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