Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Teen gets prison term in ‘sexting’ case 9/3/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009 Arrest in nude "sexting" photos of Arlington teen By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer ARLINGTON -- It may be Arlington's first investigation into a case of "sexting." For the technically illiterate, that's the use of cell phones and text messages to carry on an amorous affair, Arlington police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said. This relationship, between teenagers, went sideways. Now a Yakima-area man, 18, is behind bars after he allegedly threatened an Arlington middle school student and posted nude photos of her on the Internet. In March, the girl's parents went to police, concerned that their daughter, 15, was being harassed by somebody she had met on MySpace. The man started sending the girl threatening text messages, according to court documents. The girl may have previously met him through friends when she used to live in Eastern Washington. The two had talked online, according to a search warrant filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. Detectives learned the man sent the girl coercive messages demanding graphic photos. She sent him pictures of herself she took with her cell phone, the court documents said. Then the girl decided she didn't want to be his girlfriend because he lived far away in Eastern Washington and she didn't like him. "I'm not gonna ever leave you alone til your dead," the man wrote in a text message, according to court documents. Another message read: "I've had dreams about killing you and soon my dreams will happen." He'd learned she planned a visit to his Eastern Washington town to visit her relatives. The man allegedly called the girl nonstop for almost five days. He's believed to have set up a MySpace account in the girl's name and used it to post nude photos of her. On Tuesday, Arlington detectives drove to Selah and arrested the man. After the man's arrest, he allegedly told police he may have additional victims, Banfield said. "We don't know if they're in our jurisdiction or someone else's," she said. The man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of harassment, dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A judge Wednesday released the man on his own recognizance and ordered him not to have contact with the girl. Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifts its nose at Paine Field; flight set for Tuesday 2. Arlington assault leaves man critically injured 3. Recession hard on Snohomish County eateries 4. Up to 3 inches of snow expected in some parts of Western Washington 5. Washington could see new taxes in a host of areas 6. I'll see you in Hell's Kitchen 7. Biz week 8. Veteran, teacher, painter — and now, Mukilteo man is an author 9. Gov. Gregoire knows her budget is doomed 10. See the holiday light spectacle at Warm Beach 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Zambian woman thanks students for their help • Food banks see rise in use • ‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds • Wolfpack takes aim at state • Seahawks help students smile • 95 and still volunteering • Sno-King joined by local TV king • Veterans back for Wildcats • Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap • Snohomish County offers the best and most affordable venues for conferen ... • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed