(Clarkston, WA) Justin L. Patten, 41, was arrested on Tuesday after the Clarkston Police Department conducted a multi-day sting operation under the alleged suspicion that Patten was inappropriately communicating with minors.
According to the official court documents, Clarkston Police officers were notified of a note found in the men’s restroom at the Asotin County Library. The note reportedly said, “Casual, discreet, and no strings attached. Please be at least 18 years old. If you’re interested, text me and we can see what’s up.” The note was discovered by a group of boys using the restroom, whom then reportedly brought the note to a librarian.
Clarkston Police were reportedly able to trace the phone number included on the paper to Justin Patten of Clarkston. An officer then reached out to Patten, posing as a 15-year-old boy who had found the note. After multiple days of communication, Patten agreed to meet up at Chestnut Beach in Clarkston.
According to the court documents, officers pulled into the beach behind Patten with their emergency lights on with the intention to place him under arrest. Patten allegedly told police that he “had done nothing wrong”, but eventually complied with the officer’s and exited his vehicle. Police then confiscated his phone and placed him under arrest.
With the evidence gathered during the sting operation, Patten was subsequently booked into the Asotin County Jail for three counts of felony communication with a minor for immoral purposes and one count of third-degree attempted rape of a child. His bond has been set at $50,000.