Plea agreement reached in Mullan internet sting case

WALLACE — A Mullan man originally charged with enticing a child through online communications has agreed to plead guilty to a reduced felony charge under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors. 

Blake S. Wilson, 38, pleaded guilty on Monday in Shoshone County District Court to procurement of commercial sexual activity. 

Wilson was arrested in August on a charge of enticement of a child through the use of the internet or other communication device. 

Under the agreement, prosecutors and the defense will jointly recommend a two-year underlying prison sentence, suspended in favor of probation. The procurement charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

According to court records, Wilson was arrested Aug. 14 after the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office investigated allegations that he engaged in sexually explicit online communications with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Investigators alleged Wilson continued communicating after being told the person was 13, sent sexually explicit messages and offered to pay for sex. 

The original investigation stemmed from information provided by Robert Garrett, who described himself to law enforcement as an online predator catcher. Garrett told investigators he posed as a 13-year-old girl during online conversations with Wilson before providing screenshots and other evidence to authorities. 

Shoshone County Deputy Prosecutor Britney Jacobs said the case presented unique challenges because the person communicating with Wilson was not a juvenile and was not working with law enforcement. 

"They were a grown adult male, as far as we know, so thankfully no juveniles were ever in harm's way, but it does only leave us with only a few statutes to work with when there is no actual child victim," Jacobs said.    

Jacobs said the case involved "a vigilante of sorts" who used his own electronic devices to create profiles and communicate with suspected predators while posing as an underage girl. 

She also noted the case was complicated by the absence of the individual who conducted the online sting, making it more difficult for prosecutors to introduce key evidence at trial. 

"The other piece here is that the individual who initiated this sting operation is now nowhere to be found, so we are left with very little avenues to introduce the evidence without that individual laying the foundation," Jacobs said. 

Jacobs said proving intent in cases without an actual victim can also present challenges at trial. 

Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced in February of next year.