Teh One Who Knocks
01-23-2015, 12:13 PM
BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
A Mill Creek man accused of suggesting the 14-year-old girl he was having sex with turn to prostitution has been charged with child rape.
Mark Holstein is accused of having sex with the girl on at least six occasions after kidding with her that his doing so could land him in prison. Holstein, 28, drew investigators’ attention after the girl’s father found sexually explicit text messages.
King County prosecutors claim Holstein and the girl met on an online chat platform, Omegle, and then began texting online through a service called Kik in early October. The girl initially claimed to be 19, though prosecutors say she soon revealed her true age to Holstein.
Early in their correspondence, Holstein suggested the girl should consider prostitution, a King County Sheriff’s Office detective said in court papers.
“You honestly should consider being an escort,” Holstein told the girl, according to charging papers. “You’d be able to make a ton, I promise.”
Holstein then arranged to meet the girl for sex near her mother’s home, the detective said in charging papers. According to charging papers, he picked her up at a closed elementary school. Holstein is alleged to have taken sexually explicit photos of the girl.
According to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court, Holstein joked with the girl about his going to prison if he were caught having sex with another child.
“You’re the only one I need,” he wrote the girl, according to charging papers. “Plus prison.”
As it turned out, Holstein likely faces 13 months in custody if convicted, just enough time to qualify him for prison.
Holstein encouraged the girl to delete the chat sessions “in case your dad gets ahold of anything,” according to charging papers. Prosecutors say the girl’s father did indeed discover their correspondence after looking into his daughter’s phone.
The detective noted investigators were able to identify Holstein by a genital piercing pictured in photos found on the girl’s phone. Holstein’s piercing was later taken into evidence.
Holstein was arrested Jan. 12 and has since been released after posting bond on $50,000 bail. He has not yet entered a plea.
A Mill Creek man accused of suggesting the 14-year-old girl he was having sex with turn to prostitution has been charged with child rape.
Mark Holstein is accused of having sex with the girl on at least six occasions after kidding with her that his doing so could land him in prison. Holstein, 28, drew investigators’ attention after the girl’s father found sexually explicit text messages.
King County prosecutors claim Holstein and the girl met on an online chat platform, Omegle, and then began texting online through a service called Kik in early October. The girl initially claimed to be 19, though prosecutors say she soon revealed her true age to Holstein.
Early in their correspondence, Holstein suggested the girl should consider prostitution, a King County Sheriff’s Office detective said in court papers.
“You honestly should consider being an escort,” Holstein told the girl, according to charging papers. “You’d be able to make a ton, I promise.”
Holstein then arranged to meet the girl for sex near her mother’s home, the detective said in charging papers. According to charging papers, he picked her up at a closed elementary school. Holstein is alleged to have taken sexually explicit photos of the girl.
According to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court, Holstein joked with the girl about his going to prison if he were caught having sex with another child.
“You’re the only one I need,” he wrote the girl, according to charging papers. “Plus prison.”
As it turned out, Holstein likely faces 13 months in custody if convicted, just enough time to qualify him for prison.
Holstein encouraged the girl to delete the chat sessions “in case your dad gets ahold of anything,” according to charging papers. Prosecutors say the girl’s father did indeed discover their correspondence after looking into his daughter’s phone.
The detective noted investigators were able to identify Holstein by a genital piercing pictured in photos found on the girl’s phone. Holstein’s piercing was later taken into evidence.
Holstein was arrested Jan. 12 and has since been released after posting bond on $50,000 bail. He has not yet entered a plea.