An Aberdeen man is among 21 arrested in the latest “Operation Net Nanny,” a State Patrol-led effort to target persons believed to be involved in child abuse and exploitation via the internet.
Michael Lee Wolfenberger, 24, was arrested July 29 and arraigned in Pierce County Superior Court July 30 on charges of attempted rape of a child in the 2nd degree and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. According to Pierce County court records, he remains held on $250,000 bail. Wolfenberger is currently scheduled for another hearing Aug. 30 and a jury trial beginning Sept. 20.
According to a declaration of probable cause filed with the court: An agent created a social media profile using the photo of a young-appearing female undercover officer. The page implied the girl was interested in a sexual encounter. Wolfenberger allegedly made contact and the undercover officer told him she was 13.
The exchange moved from social media to texting and charging papers allege he arranged to meet with the girl in Puyallup for a sexual encounter. He was followed there by other undercover units and was greeted by a youthful appearing female undercover officer. After allegedly making sexual overtones, Wolfenberger was taken into custody.
This was the 13th such Net Nanny operation in the state, according to the State Patrol Lt. James Mijor.
“In addition to the identified suspects, detectives believe four suspects have been recognized as having access to (more than) 10 children (who are) at risk of being abused,” said Mijor. “Supplemental follow-up investigations are currently under way to identify those children and arrange for the appropriate assistance for any abuse they may have been exposed to.”
The Net Nanny operations began in August of 2015. Since the original operation, there have been 12 additional operations throughout Washington State which have resulted in the arrests of 205 people and assistance to more than 30 identified child victims, said Mijor.
Undercover law enforcement officers communicated on the internet through various websites and mobile phone applications with people interested in having sex with children. The operation generated hundreds of responses, said Mijor. The suspects arrested over the five-day operation traveled to meet with undercover detectives posing as young girls and boys with the intent to engage in sexual activity with children as young as 9 years old.
Charges against those arrested range from attempted rape of a child to possession of child pornography and involving a minor in unlawful controlled substance transactions.
