Twelve men were arrested in Battle Ground last week as part of a four-day investigation targeting child sex predators, according to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) news release dated Wednesday, August 27.
According to WSP, the primary crimes under investigation are attempted child rape, immoral communication with a minor, and sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Missing and Exploited Children Task Force led the investigation, which included more than 20 law enforcement agencies and 60 officers. The majority of individuals arrested are suspected of traveling to a designated site in Battle Ground with the intent to engage in sexual behavior with a juvenile. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will investigate the cases and evaluate potential charges.
“These targeted operations underscore the alarming extent of predators seeking to exploit children,” Battle Ground Chief of Police Dennis Flynn said in a news release. “The collaborative work of the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, along with the combined efforts of the twenty other law enforcement agencies, is critical to confronting these crimes. We remain steadfast in working alongside our partners to safeguard our youth from those who would exploit them.”
The arrested men are aged 24 to 61 and come from Washington, Oregon, and New York.
The accused were identified by WSP as John Yee, 48, Portland; Shadrick Monen, 24, Salem, Oregon; Bakary Berete, 28, Portland; Bryce Bennett, 43, Goldendale, Washington; Samuel Ramirez Guerra, 31, Brush Prairie; Michael Walton, 42, Portland; Jonathan Mahn, 57, Liberty Lake, Washington; Timothy Evers, 61, Eugene, Oregon; Nicorie Wade, 39, Medina, New York; Colin Ferguson, 41, Beaverton, Oregon; Victor Gurrola, 31, Longview; and James Voreis, 40, Vancouver.
Anyone with information regarding the listed suspects, including information leading to the identification of potential victims implicated in these cases, can contact the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force at mectf@wsp.wa.gov.
“This operation is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when local, state, and federal.
In the news announcement, WSP Chief John Batiste stated that agencies work together to protect our most vulnerable citizens. “I’d like to thank every agency involved for their effort, coordination, and unwavering pursuit of justice. The protection of our children will always be our number one priority, and this operation sends a clear message that child exploitation will not be tolerated in Battle Ground or elsewhere.”