A 43-year-old Lacey middle school teacher who was arrested in a child sexual abuse sting is being held in Lewis County jail in lieu of $75,000.
Justin Hinchcliffe, who has been placed on leave from his teaching job at Salish Middle School, has been charged with second-degree attempted rape of a child, communication with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
He attended his preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Nov. 14. The day prior, law enforcement arrested him in a multi-agency operation known as “net nanny” that targeted people allegedly involved in the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Judge James Lawler set Hinchcliffe’s bail amount and barred Hinchcliffe from contacting minors or frequenting locations where minor children are known to congregate.
North Thurston Public Schools had Hinchcliffe placed on administrative leave pending the criminal investigation and any subsequent district investigation, Superintendent Debra Clemens said in an email to parents.
The alleged crimes are not related to any events or incidents involving Salish Middle School or North Thurston Public School students, Clemens said. Court records indicate law enforcement lured him to a location in Lewis County after posing as a 13-year-old minor online.
A probable cause statement describes the sting operation and investigation from the perspective of law enforcement.
On Nov. 10, law enforcement advertised an “undercover” girl on a website used for prostitution. The girl was listed as a 19-year-old who was offering various sexual services, according to the statement.
Those who responded to the advertisement received messages from law enforcement posing as the girl.
In the messages, law enforcement reportedly “made clear” the respondent was a 13-year-old girl. On Nov. 12, law enforcement allegedly received a message from a person, later identified as Hinchcliffe, who asked about the cost for sexually explicit acts. The statement accuses Hinchcliffe of agreeing to spend $240 and meet at a predetermined location later that day.
Law enforcement observed Hinchcliffe as he drove to the location. At that point, he was reportedly asked to go to a second location and told that the sexual activity would take place in his car. To indicate his arrival, the statement says he was told to flash his headlights.
Once there, law enforcement took Hinchcliffe into custody. Officers noted his wallet and condoms inside his vehicle.
Officers then sent a test message to one of the accounts he allegedly used to communicate with the supposed 13-year-old girl. His phone reportedly received a notification from the message.
Two additional messages were sent to two phone numbers he reportedly used to communicate with the girl. The first message did not trigger a notification on his phone but the second one did, according to the statement.
After being read his rights, Hinchcliffe allegedly admitted that the messaging account and the two phone numbers belonged to him.
He reportedly said he was a middle school teacher and he never intended to have sex with the girl. He added he was just trying to save her, according to the statement.
The statement notes Hinchcliffe never called law enforcement to report the minor.
Judge Lawler ordered Hinchcliffe’s arraignment to take place Wednesday, Nov. 23.
