LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — At least 13 people were arrested in a Washington State Patrol led child exploitation sting operation that converged in Liberty Lake this week. It was called ‘Operation Liberty Lake.’
Washington State Patrol says some of the people arrested tried to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex. Others thought they were talking with the mother of a 13-year-old and 9-year-old who was selling them for sex. Both ended up being undercover detectives. One of the 13 was an employee of the KXLY Radio Group.
According to court documents, WSP detectives used online apps to pose as fictitious underage girls. Detectives exchanged messages with several people who agreed to meet with these girls, knowing they were underage.
Five men and one woman faced a Spokane County judge for the first time Thursday.
Their names and ages are:
Jennifer L. Whittaker, 54, Coeur d’Alene, IDTed A. Whittaker, 54, Coeur d’Alene, IDMichael B. Lewis, 53 Fernwood, IDRocky L. Dailey, 63, Greenacres, WATrenton S. Watkins, 24, SpokaneMichael D. Ferguson, 51, Spokane
Seven more went before a judge on Friday afternoon:
Marco G. Bosnich, 42, SpokaneWesley E. Georgius, 62, Coeur d’Alene, IDJohn N. Johnson, 37, Chattaroy, WAIllijah Jon Karasek, 23, Sandpoint, IDDylan White, 33, RathdrumKyle Ervin White, 31, SpokaneEric A. White-Boomer, 21, Spokane
Prosecutors say Jennifer Whittaker helped her husband Ted Whittaker meet up with an underage girl for sex. When she and her husband were arrested, she told police this wasn’t the first time her husband had arranged something like this.
“Also at that point, the defendant in this case Mrs. Whittaker did state that her husband had been hands-on with children in the past that she was aware of,” said Anastasiya Krotoff, deputy prosecutor for Spokane County.
Both Whittaker and her husband are being charged with attempted rape of a child in the second degree and commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
Another man who was arrested in this sting operation was Michael Ferguson, a salesman for the KXLY Radio Group. According to court documents, Ferguson thought he was texting with a 13-year-old girl, but was actually talking to a WSP detective. Investigators say Ferguson agreed to drive to a parking lot in Liberty Lake, then walk to a nearby apartment to meet her.
“This included very explicit language about sexual acts he was going to commit. The defendant was arrested with $250 on his person in exchange for the agreed-upon sexual acts,” Krotoff said.
WSP says it used surveillance drones to follow Ferguson to help its officers make the arrest. Investigators say Ferguson confessed and even wrote an apology letter to his family and his community.
Ferguson is charged with attempted rape of a minor in the second degree, commercial sexual abuse of a minor and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
All 13 defendants are being held on bonds ranging from $100,000 to $150,000. They’re due back in court on Tuesday, the 7th.
The operation was spearheaded by the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate. Since the first operation in August 2015, MECTF has netted nearly 400 arrests and removed numerous children from danger across the state because of police intervention.
“Our detectives worked tirelessly with our local and federal partners to identify and arrest those who prey on the most vulnerable in our community,” said Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol. “Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most important responsibilities we have as law enforcement officers, and we will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly.”
Operation Liberty Lake involved more than 20 dedicated law enforcement officers, agents, and staff. The agencies involved include:
• Washington State Patrol
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Benton County Sheriff’s Office
• Chelan County Sheriff’s Office
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Kennewick Police Department
• Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office
• Liberty Lake Police Department
• Othello Police Department
• Post Falls Police Department
• Richland Police Department
• Seattle Police Department
• Spokane County Prosecutors Office
• Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
• Spokane Police Department
• Stevens County Sheriff’s Office
• US Attorney’s Office (Eastern District of Washington)
• US Border Patrol
• Washington Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)
• Yakima Police Department
The KXLY Broadcast Group is owned by Morgan Murphy Media. The VP of Radio, Tery Garras, issued a statement Thursday:
“Mike Ferguson was immediately placed on an indefinite suspension from the KXLY Radio Group related to these serious criminal allegations while we gather more information.”
On Friday, Garras said that Ferguson is no longer employed with the company.
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