CLARKSTON, WA – A 41-year-old man was arrested this week after allegedly getting caught up in a sting operation. Officials say Justin Patten was unaware that he was texting with law enforcement officers in an attempt to have a sexual relationship with whom he thought was a teenager. According to a Probable Cause Affidavit, he was booked into the Asotin County Jail on a charge of Communicating with Minors for Immoral Purposes. The bond was set at $50,000.
On January 27th, three teenage boys found a “suspicious” note in the men’s restroom at the Asotin County Library. They brought it to the attention of a library employee.
The following day, an Asotin County detective responded to the scene. The note read: “Casual, discreet, and no strings attached. Please be at least 18 years of age. If your interested text me and we can see whats up 509-XXX-XXXX, according to the affidavit. A note on the back of the paper read, “Hey handsome.”
The document says the phone number was found to belong to Patten, who lived just three blocks from the library.
“The fact the Library is frequented by children and teenagers, largely due to Clarkston High School and Parkway Elementary being right up the road, provided reasonable concern regarding who the note was intended for despite the claimed 18 y/o age restriction listed on the note,” the affidavit says.
The detective decided to initiate a “ruse” and texted the phone number, saying he was a 15-year-old boy who had “recently discovered I’m not into girls.”
The texting continued until Patten allegedly set a meeting at Chestnut Beach Park. Undercover officers witnessed a Cadillac vehicle pass the park and drive to the lower level near the Snake River. They then followed him and parked behind the vehicle to block Patten in. Patten immediately told the detectives that he had not done anything wrong.
