A man was arrested in Parker earlier today, accused of driving from Seattle to have sex with a child.
Gary Lee Waffle, 68, of Seattle, was having internet conversations with undercover officers from Parker who created a fictional character, police said.
Waffle set up a meeting with the fictional woman who he thought was setting him up to have sex with her 6-year-old daughter.
The internet conversations went on for about four months.
Waffle met with an undercover officer this morning. The officer was wired to record their conversation, in which Waffle discussed being excited to meet the woman’s fictional daughter and to have sex with her, police said.
Waffle was arrested and 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, and up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, or both, on the third charge.
Parents are reminded to monitor their children’s online activity.
This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors.
Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 12,800 individuals.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or .
