SANDPOINT — A former Sandpoint resident was one of 13 Idaho and Washington residents who were arrested last week and charged with crimes related to attempted child rape in a muti-agency sting operation dubbed Operation Liberty Lake.  

A sting operation is a law enforcement technique used to catch individuals in the act of a potential crime by creating a scenario where the crime can occur. These types of operations usually include undercover law enforcement gathering evidence while an individual allegedly attempts to commit a crime.  

Leading the operation was the Washington State Patrol’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force, an affiliate of Internet Crimes Against Children. According to a WSP press release, 20 other agencies participated in the operation including Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Border Patrol, Liberty Lake, Post Falls and Spokane police departments and the Spokane and Steven’s County Sheriff’s office.  

Among the arrested is previous Sandpoint resident, Ilijah Jon Karasek, 23. According to his Facebook profile, Karasek worked as a barista at the Ponderay Starbucks before moving to Spokane Valley. The profile indicates Karasek is a Georgia native.  

Karasek currently resides in the Spokane County jail on a $100,000 bond. He is being charged with second-degree attempted child rape and communication with a minor for immoral purposes, according to the Spokane County Detention Services. If found guilty of the charges, Karasek could face up to life in prison. A plea agreement could lessen the punishment.  

Others arrested were Michael Ferguson of Spokane; Michael Lewis of Fernwood, Idaho; Ted Whittaker of Coeur d’Alene; Jennifer Whittaker of Coeur d’Alene; Rocky Dailey of Greenacres, Wash.; Trenton Watkins of Spokane; Marco Bosnich of Spokane; John Johnson of Chattaroy, Wash.; Wesley Georgius of Coeur d’Alene; Kyle White of Spokane; Dylan White of Rathdrum, Idaho; and Eric Boomer-White of Spokane.   

“Our detectives worked tirelessly with our local and federal partners to identify and arrest those who prey on the most vulnerable in our community," said Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol. "Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most important responsibilities we have as law enforcement officers, and we will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly.” 

According to the press release, since the start of the task force in 2015, there have been 360 arrests. 

Anyone with information related to the suspects listed, or information leading to the identity of victims potentially involved in these cases, please contact METCF at [email protected].