Man sends sexual texts to preteen he met while she was trick-or-treating, WA cops say
A 35-year-old man sent sexual texts to a preteen girl he met while she was trick-or-treating in Washington, police said.
Now, police are warning parents to be vigilant about what’s on their children’s devices
The child’s parents discovered sexual text messages from a stranger on her phone and called 911, the Kent Police Department said in a Dec. 9 Facebook post.
Police said the Seattle man, who they did not name in the post, had met the girl while she was trick-or-treating and “thought she was pretty and somehow, obtained her cell phone number.”
The two texted for a week before the parents found the messages, police said, and the man had been “suggesting they meet up to engage in sexual activity.”
The man was arrested on suspicion of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, police said.
“It (seems) obvious to us as adults not to give random strangers our phone numbers or addresses, and not to try to meet up with someone we barely know. But kids lack our experience and think differently,” police said in the post.
Police said parents should be aware of what’s on their children’s phones, laptops and iPads. Additionally, police advised parents to talk to their children and “put safeguards on their devices.”
“You would not leave your windows open to allow just anyone to sneak inside. Don’t leave your screens unguarded either,” police said.
Police did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for more information on Monday, Dec. 9.
Kent is about a 20-mile drive south from Seattle.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Man sends sexual texts to preteen he met while she was trick-or-treating, WA cops say."
