Chelan County Sheriff: “We’re bringing the fight to those who want to victimize children"

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said Tuesday that the Sheriff's Office played an important role in the recent apprehension of 13 men allegedly interested in sex with children.

Much like “Operation Net Nanny”, which took place in Chelan County in July of 2024, this operation was a collaboration of local, state, and federal agencies to target individuals who attempt to solicit sex from under age children.

Dubbed “Operation Liberty Lake,” this operation was lead by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) affiliate.

Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Brian Lewis served as a team leader in the operation, while Detective Cy Bowthorpe played a key role in securing critical search warrants.

The Sheriff added that one man is facing federal charges after, “Offering to trade his one and three year old children for an undercover 13 year old. This suspect was arrested at his house and is being charged with trafficking.”

The men arrested were from Spokane, Coeur d’ Alene, Sandpoint, Fernwood, Greenacres, Chattaroy and Rathdrum.

"All of the suspects arrested live well within the typical driving range from Chelan County that predators are known to operate within," said Chelan County Sheriff's Operations Chief Ryan Moody in a news release.

“Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community remains a top priority for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Morrison. “We are proud to support operations like this and will continue working with our partners to combat these heinous crimes.”

“Another clear example of state, federal and local agencies working with each other for the greater good,” Morrison added. “Always feels great to take a bunch of child predators off the street.”