KING COUNTY, Wash. — The former executive director of Kitsap County’s 911 services pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor on Wednesday.
On Jan. 26, Richard Kirton, 54, was arrested in King County as part of a sting operation. Kirton was officially charged with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor on Jan. 31. He voluntarily resigned as executive director of Kitsap 911, which provides emergency communication services to Kitsap County on Jan. 30.
On Jan. 26, a Bellevue Police Department detective with the Human Trafficking Unit created a fake profile on an app as part of a “pro-active covert operation which was intended to address the demand for commercial sex of underage victims,” according to probable cause documents from the King County Sheriff's Office.
Kirton allegedly messaged the undercover detective’s fake profile and agreed to pay the 16-year-old person – who the detective was pretending to be – in cash for sexual acts, documents state. When the undercover detective told Kirton he was 16, Kirton allegedly messaged, “that works for me,” documents state.
When Kirton reportedly arrived at the agreed upon north King County hotel room and messaged the undercover detective’s profile that he had arrived, police arrested him around 11 p.m., probable cause documents state.
A judge set Kirton’s bail at $5,000 and he was released Feb. 4.
His next court appearance is scheduled for April 2.