18th 'Net Nanny' Operation Leads To 7 Arrests In Snohomish County

EVERETT, WA — Seven men were arrested in Snohomish County during a recent multi-agency operation targeting suspected online predators, according to Washington State Patrol.

WSP said the men arrested range in age from 21 years old to 56 years old. The arrests included two men from Bellingham, two from Everett, and one man from Arlington, Monroe and Seattle respectively.

According to investigators, the arresting activities ranged from communicating with a minor for immoral purposes to physically traveling to a specified place to have sexual relations with a person they believed to be underage.

Charges filed this week include attempted rape of a child, commercial sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation.

Washington State Patrol identified the men arrested in a press release Tuesday. All seven suspects have been formally charged:

· Jerman, Nicholas, 25, of Bellingham

· Orth, Eric R., 38, of Bellingham

· Wood, Colin M., 31, of Seattle

· Rettig, Richard E., 56, of Monroe

· Pickett, Kevin F.,34, of Arlington

· Scott, Anthony J., 23, of Everett

· Barbee, Michael A., 21, Everett

The latest operation included officers and agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Washington State Patrol, Everett Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. WSP said previous "Net Nanny" operations have led to nearly 300 arrests and the rescue of more than 31 children. An operation in the DuPont area last month led to four arrests.