Psychologist Charged with Seeking Sex with 12-Year-Old

          A Seattle psychologist was arrested and has been charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor, following a two week investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  JONATHAN BRENT WULF, 61, of Seattle posted an ad on Craigslist beginning a conversation with an undercover agent for Homeland Security.  Through various communications by phone and internet, WULF expressed his desire to have sex with the agent’s fictional 12-year-old stepdaughter.  WULF was arrested yesterday when he arrived at the hotel selected as the meeting place for the sexual encounter.  WULF appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today and is being detained pending a detention hearing on Friday, September 25, 2015.

            According to the criminal complaint, over a two week period in September 2015, WULF repeatedly communicated with the undercover agent about his desire to have sex with the agent’s fictional 12-year-old stepdaughter.  WULF repeatedly suggested that all text messages or other internet communications regarding his interest in underage sex should be deleted.  WULF also repeatedly acknowledged that pursuing sex with a minor was illegal.  WULF is currently employed as a psychologist with a Seattle medical group. 

            Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.

            The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.