John Philip Shoosmith of Bellingham appears in Clallam County Superior Court where he was charged with attempted possession of child pornography, attempted rape of a child and criminal impersonation with sexual motivation. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

John Philip Shoosmith of Bellingham appears in Clallam County Superior Court where he was charged with attempted possession of child pornography, attempted rape of a child and criminal impersonation with sexual motivation. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Bellingham man charged in Port Angeles with attempted child rape

PORT ANGELES — A Bellingham man accused of driving to Port Angeles to have sex with two teens has been charged with attempted child rape, attempted possession of child pornography and using a fake name.

John Philip Shoosmith, 53, appeared in Clallam County Superior Court last Wednesday and remained held in the Clallam County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail on Tuesday.

He was formally charged with second-degree attempted possession of images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, third-degree attempted rape of a child and first-degree criminal impersonation with sexual motivation.

Arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Court records say that when Shoosmith approached a Port Angeles home Saturday where he was expecting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, police walked out the front door and arrested him

When he first saw the police exit the front door, he exclaimed “oh [expletive],” and “that’s not cool,” before dropping two six-packs of alcohol and a can of whipped cream, court records say.

Shoosmith first contacted a mother on Fetlife, a social networking website for people interested in fetishism, and asked for topless pictures of her 14-year-old daughter, a request she told investigators should have been a “red flag.”

Court papers say Shoosmith — who had said his last name was Erickson — and the mother first agreed to meet earlier this month in Port Townsend and Shoosmith asked her to bring her 14-year-old daughter.

Before meeting, Shoosmith said in a text message that he had a fantasy to be with a “barely legal type.” During this meeting, Shoosmith asked the 14-year-old daughter to touch him, according to court papers.

He later told the mother it would never happen again and he told her to delete their conversations, records say. The mother contacted police.

On Friday the mother told police that Shoosmith had asked if her older daughter wanted to be “intimate” with him. On Saturday he asked for permission to have sex with the older daughter, records say.

He asked the mother to delete that message because it “sounds bad.”

Later that morning police obtained a search warrant for a wire and police helped the mother communicate with Shoosmith.

Court records say police did not direct the conversation, but asked her not to respond at certain times.

While on his way from Bellingham, Shoosmith said he wanted to have sex with the younger daughter as well, and agreed to purchase whipped cream and hard cider.

________

Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.

More in Crime

Task force arrests man on investigation of drug, weapons offenses

A Port Angeles man has been arrested on investigation… Continue reading

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife seized 1,400 pounds of green sea urchins like these in January that were illegally harvested and offloaded in Port Angeles. A wholesale shellfish company located in the Interstate 5 corridor and the harvester are likely facing fines for a number of infractions, including failing to report the catch. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Company probed for urchin harvest

WDFW: No record of 1,400-pound catch

Deputies: Sting results in arrest in complex scam

Sequim woman provides total of $125,000, Sheriff’s Office says

Port Angeles man arrested after vehicle pursuit

A vehicle pursuit through Clallam County and Port Angeles… Continue reading

Murder trial rescheduled for October

Both sides waiting for forensic testing results

Two investigated for possession of controlled substance

Two Sequim residents were arrested on investigation of possession… Continue reading

Two men are now serving prison time for beating an employee last October at the AM/PM in Carlsborg and attempting to take his wallet. Joshua Pulliam, 28, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18 to conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and will serve a year in prison, while Julian Treat, 30, pleaded guilty Jan. 21 and was sentenced to two years in prison. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Second man pleads guilty to Carlsborg AM/PM burglary

Two-year sentence includes drug treatment, mental health evaluation

Sequim Police investigators report they continue to submit items for DNA and fingerprint evidence to discover person behind the murder of Sequim’s Valerie Claplanhoo in January 2019. (Rebecca Ruby)
Claplanhoo homicide investigation ongoing

Alliance with Missing and Murdered Indigenous team continues

Port Angeles man charged with murder to have hearing Feb. 21

Marquise Gregory Hagans-Moore, who is accused of killing a… Continue reading

Cold case solved through geneology analysis

PA police say DNA links Quilcene man to 1988 sexual assaults

January trial set for men charged with burglary at AM/PM in Carlsborg

Men allegedly assaulted AM/PM employee during October incident

Surveillance footage released by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office shows a suspect allegedly holding a Frugals employee at gunpoint on Thursday. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Frugals robbed at gunpoint

Frugals was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday and law… Continue reading