VANCOUVER — Police have arrested a Washington state man who they allege was headed to B.C. to have sexual contact with someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl.
The U.S. justice department issued a news release saying that Christopher David Johnston was arrested Friday morning when authorities say he tried to illegally cross the border into Canada.
A criminal complaint filed earlier this month alleges the 39-year-old Ferndale, Wash. resident posted a personal ad on Craigslist saying he was looking for a "young lady to spoil."
An undercover officer responded and said she wasn't yet 13-years-old.
Despite knowing her age, Johnston allegedly sent the "girl" sexual emails, texts and chats and eventually arranged to meet her in Abbotsford, B.C.
He was arrested in the U.S. as he rode his bicycle as he approached the border near Sumas, Washington. Via text message he told the ‘girl’ that he was planning on crossing the border illegally to meet her in Canada.
He has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
