Fourteen people were arrested in Skagit County this weekend in connection with a multi-agency investigation into alleged child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The operation, led by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF), also included support from several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

According to the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office, prosecutors will review the cases to determine formal charges against those arrested.

Dubbed “Operation Child Exploitation”, this investigation marked the 23rd such effort led by the MECTF since 2015.

MECTF operates as an affiliate of Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and has resulted in 348 arrests across the state, saving numerous children from exploitation and abuse through proactive intervention.

The task force worked in coordination with more than 60 law enforcement personnel, including members of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as other law enforcement partners.

Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich praised the joint effort, saying, “On behalf of the citizens of Skagit County, I would like to thank state, federal and local law enforcement for their work in successfully apprehending a number of individuals attempting to take advantage of our most vulnerable – the children of Skagit County.”

Mount Vernon Police Chief Daniel Christman echoed Weyrich’s sentiments, stressing the importance of such collaborative operations in protecting the community. “Efforts like Operation Child Exploitation are remarkable because they intercept adults who target children for sexual gratification,” Christman said. “I am very proud of the members of the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Washington State Patrol and our local law enforcement partners, who have all helped identify, arrest and build strong cases against sexual predators who use the Internet to to exploit and abuse our children. .”

The main charges being investigated include attempted rape of a child in the first and second degrees, communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Among the people arrested during the operation are:

• Anthony Eaton35, Seattle, WA

• Gregory Hardy36, Burlington, WA

• Dylan Jones33, Puyallup, WA

• Christopher Kay40, Sedro-Woolley, WA

• Domingo Lopez Flores34, Lake Stevens, WA

• Luke Lukens44, Mount Vernon, WA

• Peter MedellinAge 39, Sedro-Woolley, WA

• Cody Mitchell37, Ferndale, WA

• Almar Nobriga62, Everett, WA

• Abraham Ramos31, Tulalip, WA

• Ronald Romero Ramos25, Bellingham, WA

• Steffon Schalesky34, Burlington, WA

• Taylor Strauss34, Edmonds, WA

• Reuben ThompsonAge 50, Renton, WA

Anyone with information related to additional suspects or victims is encouraged to contact the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force at [email protected].