Parents' sting operation stops alleged child predator

SEATTLE -- Two concerned parents in Spokane set up an impromptu sting operation to stop a 30-year-old Federal Way man from continuing to meet with their 15-year-old daughter, the Spokesman-Review reported.

The man allegedly began an improper relationship with the teenage girl online through a Facebook dating application called "Are You Interested." The girls' parents discovered the relationship in June and found "hundreds" of messages allegedly exchanged between the girl and Richards, the paper reported.

According to the Spokesman-Review, the suspect and the girl met in May and planned to elope. When the parents discovered the plot, they hatched a plan to lure the man to Spokane. The mother continued to message him on the girl's behalf, and convinced him to meet to go through with the runaway plan. The girl's father and a few buddies met the man in a parking lot and encircled him with their cars until police arrived.

The suspect allegedly admitted to knowing the girl was underage. Police said he admitted to having sex with the girl and giving her an engagement ring. The two originally planned to live in Western Washington together.

The suspect is being held in jail on $100,000 bail.