Seattle man arrested after child sex sting operation
DENVER — A 68-year-old man from Seattle was arrested in Colorado on Thursday for allegedly traveling to Colorado to have sex with a young girl, federal officials said.
Gary Lee Waffle was arrested at a restaurant in Parker, Colo., after having detailed Internet conversations with an undercover police detective about his plans to have sex with her fictional 6-year-old daughter.
According to the court affidavit, a Parker police detective was working a chat channel in an undercover capacity as a 31-year-old mother of two named "Stacy" when she was contacted by Waffle using a screen name alias.
Waffle asked what "Stacy" was into, and said he was there to learn what parents can do to play with their kids sexually, according to court records.
After a brief chat about the undercover detective's fictional 6-year-old daughter, "Brie," he said he would be willing to come to Colorado to have sex with her. Waffle and the detective continued to have Internet conversations over the next four months.
Waffle later informed the undercover detective that he was planning on traveling to Denver on Thursday so he could have sex with "Brie." Waffle and "Stacy" agreed to meet at a restaurant in Parker, U.S. Immigration and Customs officials said.
On Thursday morning, Waffle met with "Stacy," who was wired to record their conversation. Waffle allegedly discussed how he was excited to meet her 6-year-old daughter and to have sex with her. He was then arrested.
Waffle has been charged with traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, aggravated sexual abuse with children and attempted coercion and enticement.
If convicted, Waffle faces up to 30 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine - or both - in connection with each of the first two charges. On the third charge, he faces the possibility of life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both if convicted.
Waffle will appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 3 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe for a detention hearing and preliminary hearing.
The arrest was announced by Kumar Kibble, special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
"This case shows how important it is for law enforcement agencies to work together to identify, arrest and prosecute brazen predators who would travel across state lines to have sex with a small child," Kibble said.
Gary Lee Waffle was arrested at a restaurant in Parker, Colo., after having detailed Internet conversations with an undercover police detective about his plans to have sex with her fictional 6-year-old daughter.
According to the court affidavit, a Parker police detective was working a chat channel in an undercover capacity as a 31-year-old mother of two named "Stacy" when she was contacted by Waffle using a screen name alias.
Waffle asked what "Stacy" was into, and said he was there to learn what parents can do to play with their kids sexually, according to court records.
After a brief chat about the undercover detective's fictional 6-year-old daughter, "Brie," he said he would be willing to come to Colorado to have sex with her. Waffle and the detective continued to have Internet conversations over the next four months.
Waffle later informed the undercover detective that he was planning on traveling to Denver on Thursday so he could have sex with "Brie." Waffle and "Stacy" agreed to meet at a restaurant in Parker, U.S. Immigration and Customs officials said.
On Thursday morning, Waffle met with "Stacy," who was wired to record their conversation. Waffle allegedly discussed how he was excited to meet her 6-year-old daughter and to have sex with her. He was then arrested.
Waffle has been charged with traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, aggravated sexual abuse with children and attempted coercion and enticement.
If convicted, Waffle faces up to 30 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine - or both - in connection with each of the first two charges. On the third charge, he faces the possibility of life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both if convicted.
Waffle will appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 3 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe for a detention hearing and preliminary hearing.
The arrest was announced by Kumar Kibble, special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
"This case shows how important it is for law enforcement agencies to work together to identify, arrest and prosecute brazen predators who would travel across state lines to have sex with a small child," Kibble said.