EVERETT — A Marysville man faces decades behind bars after admitting Thursday he raped his 6-year-old stepdaughter, whom he also advertised online for others to molest.
Police are continuing to investigate the case to identify anyone who may have answered the Craigslist ads the man and his wife posted. Investigators recovered at least one video showing an unknown man engaged in criminal behavior with the girl.
The Marysville man, 56, also could be facing federal child pornography charges.
The girl’s mother, 34, remains charged with multiple sex crimes, including child rape. Prosecutors plan to tack on more charges if the case proceeds to trial.
The Herald is not publishing their names to protect the identity of the child and her younger brother. Child Protective Services removed both children from the home after the couple was arrested in November.
A multi-state child pornography investigation led Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives to the couple’s Marysville house. An investigation in Florida uncovered evidence that the Marysville man was sending child pornography to a woman in Texas.
She had responded to a Craigslist ad and the two exchanged email. The conversation centered on plans to meet up in Marysville so the pair could sexually abuse the man’s daughter, court papers said.
Detectives traced 190 Craigslist ads to the man’s email address.
The child’s mother allegedly admitted that she also advertised online for massage services. She reportedly admitted that she engaged in sexual activity during the massages if clients asked, court papers said.
Prosecutors allege that she is seen on a video playing a game on her phone while her daughter is being sexually abused by a man.
Her husband Thursday pleaded guilty to child rape and molestation and possession of child pornography. He faces at least 20 years in prison.
He also will have to convince the state’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board that he is safe to be released after he serves his time.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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