A 51-year-old Toledo man was arrested Friday as part of an ongoing Internet sting after allegedly agreeing to meet and pay someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl for sex, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and Prosecutor Michael Golden.
Kenneth Goodwin, the Winlock postmaster, was booked in the Lewis County Jail on three counts of allegedly patronizing prostitution after his arrest in Winlock Friday afternoon. He posted bail and was released
Golden said those charges — all gross misdemeanors — have been dismissed as he awaits additional reports from the sheriff’s office. Goodwin’s charges could be amended to attempted rape of a child in the second degree, Golden said.
“I don’t want to charge him with a gross misdemeanor if the evidence supports a felony,” Golden said. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrested Goodwin Friday afternoon in Winlock after he allegedly responded to a post on the website craigslist.com advertising sexual encounters with a 13-year-old girl.
Golden said Goodwin arrived to meet the supposed girl at a location in Napavine, but didn’t make contact with detectives who were waiting nearby. He apparently drove to Winlock, where he was later arrested.
Golden said this morning that he is awaiting reports from the sheriff’s office before making a final decision on charges. Goodwin is scheduled to make an initial appearance today at 4 p.m. in Lewis County Superior Court.
Detectives made a similar arrest Tuesday after Tumwater resident Michael James Eplett responded to a post advertising sex with an underage girl. The 23-year-old registered sex offender is currently being held on $50,000 bail with an arraignment and trial setting scheduled for Thursday.
Goodwin would be the third man charged with attempted child rape in the second degree as part of the sheriff’s office craigslist.com operation. Erik Allyn Brisbin, 46, a King County resident, was arrested Dec. 30 after allegedly responding to a post by detectives advertising sex with a mother and her underage daughter for money.
He pleaded not guilty. His case has not yet gone to trial.
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Eric Schwartz: (360) 807-8245
