U.S. police have arrested a Ferndale man they allege was en route to what he thought was a sex rendezvous with a 12-year-old Abbotsford girl.
The ‘girl’ was a undercover agent.
U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said Christopher David Johnston, 39, was arrested while trying to illegally enter Canada. He was charged Friday with attempted enticement of a minor, and remains in custody.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Johnston posted a Craigslist ad in early May seeking “a young lady to spoil.” Authorities noticed the ad and an undercover agent responded, telling Johnston that ‘she’
was not yet 13.
“Despite knowing that young age, Johnston engaged in increasingly sexualized emails, texts and chats with the agent, ultimately arranging to meet the ‘child’ in Abbotsford, BC for sex,” said the press release.
He was arrested in the U.S. as he rode his bicycle towards the border near Sumas. He has earlier texted the “girl” to let her know he planned to cross the border illegally to meet her.
The arrest is part of a U.S. initiative dubbed Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
Its aim is to locate, arrest and prosecute those who exploit children over the Internet.
