Redmond detectives arrested a man on Tuesday, March 21, as part of an online undercover operation to target men who seek out minors.
Carl A. Mest, 61, of Redmond, is charged with two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and one count of attempted rape of a child in the second degree.
Redmond detectives conducted the undercover operation, posing as a 12-year-old girl on a location-based social networking and dating application. During the conversations, beginning in early March, Mest was told several times that he was communicating with a 12-year-old female. He continued to engage in sexually motivated conversations with the detective, believing she was a minor. He also sent photographs and said he wanted to meet in person to engage in sexual acts.
Mest proposed meeting the minor at a park near the Redmond Police Department to engage in sexual activity. When he arrived, he possessed items indicating his intention to have sex with a minor.
He was arrested and booked into King County Jail on $100,000 bail.
Mest is the ninth man arrested as part of undercover operations that began in 2021 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
“We will continue our efforts toward flushing out men who are actively preying on children to hold the offenders accountable,” said Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe. “I am proud of our detectives who are dedicated to such an important initiative to combat these horrific crimes and protect our children.”
The Redmond Police Department reminds parents to monitor their children’s activities on their phones and computers to help keep them safe from potential predators.
If you or someone you know is the victim of online child sexual exploitation, contact your local police department or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jill Green, Public Information Officer
jgreen@redmond.gov
425-556-2627