YAKIMA, Wash. – A man has been convicted after attempting to rape a child in Yakima in 2019.
On Nov. 15, 2019, the Washington State Patrol Missing Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), in partnership with multiple local federal agencies, conducted a “Net Nanny” operation, an undercover operation aimed to identify sexual predators. Detective James Taylor posed as a 13-year-old girl on social media and said, “I am in Yakima, Washington. . . young, short, and sassy. Very independent.”
Court documents show that Hayden Erlandson, 25, messaged the account asking to meet with the intention of having sex. Detective Taylor sent him an address to a Yakima home, where he was arrested upon arrival.
Erlandson faces charges of attempted second-degree rape of a child and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The standard sentencing for felony attempted second-degree rape of a child ranges from six years and three months to eight years and six months in prison. The maximum penalty is life in prison with a fine of $50,000. Communicating with a minor for immoral purposes has a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
Sentencing is set to take place on Nov. 22.
Erlandson is one of nine cases the Attorney General’s Office is handling from the “Net Nanny” operation in Yakima in Nov. 2019. Detectives posed online as minors interested in sex or as individuals offering minors for sex. 16 men were arrested as a result of this operation.
This is a developing story ad will be updated as more information becomes available. Check back for updates.
