The man was arrested in Poulsbo, a suburb of Seattle, on Feb. 18. He was allegedly in the room at the Poulsbo Inn with a 13-year-old girl.

An investigation began after the alleged victim's father contacted police, Poulsbo deputy Chief Robert Wright said.

That led to charges of second-degree child molestation and communication with a minor for immoral purposes after a Bainbridge Island minor was targeted by a sex predator.

"I think he intercepted some text messages," Wright said of what prompted the father to contact authorities.

At such a tender age, youths are "completely the victim," given they do not have the maturity to anticipate what a predator's intentions might be, he said.

Some potential sex offenders seek "anonymity which goes with going out of state," making it that much more of a coup when police zero on them, he said.

In this case, police allege a man communicated with a teen since last November online and through text messages and allegedly met the victim three times in February.

Calgarian Garnet Thomas is now charged and if convicted, he would see jail time.

Bail was originally set at $25,000 and later raised to $100,000, but Tuesday afternoon Kitsip County Deputy Scott Wilson said Thomas was still in custody.