Ellensburg man sentenced for child sex trafficking
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 5 months AGO
YAKIMA — A Yakima County Superior Court Judge has sentenced an Ellenburg man netted in a nationwide child sex trafficking sting to nearly six years in prison, according to an announcement from Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Bradley Tschauner, 32, pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to commit rape of a child. Following his release, Tschauner will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years and will be under community supervision for three years, according to the press release.
According to the press release, Tschauner was nabbed in a nationwide sting of suspected pedophiles in late 2019 when a group of state, local and federal law enforcement officers coordinated by the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force posed online as minors offering sex, or as individuals offering minors for sex. The press release noted that 16 men were arrested when they arrived at pre-arranged locations in and around Yakima in mid-November 2019.
“I was proud to partner with the Washington State Patrol and Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure those who want to prey on children are held accountable,” Ferguson said. “Operations like these are a testament to what interagency partnerships can accomplish. The work of law enforcement across the state to protect children is vital.”
According to a WSP press release from November 2019, the operation was part of continuing series of stings known as “Operation Net Nanny” began in August 2015 has led to the arrest of nearly 300 suspects and freed more than 30 children.
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Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.