Kennewick Sex Offender Sentenced in Federal Court for Luring

A convicted Kennewick sex offender will likely spend at least ten years behind bars after being sentenced in Spokane Federal Court on multiple charges of trying to 'hook up' with minors for illicit purposes.

35-year-old Thomas E. Lafontaine, who was a registered sex offender, was found guilty of a series of incidents in 2014. Federal officials say he attempted to meet up with several minors, including an actual meeting with someone he thought was going to be a 14-year-old girl.

He contacted the girl via a chatroom, and proceeded to tell her in detail what he wanted to do to her sexually. Eventually, he arranged a meeting. But he didn't know he was actually talking to a federal agent.

Lafontaine showed up at the meeting and was arrested a short time later. After searching his computers and electronic devices, officials found he'd had similar conversations with at least three other minors.

The judge, Senior U.S. District Judge Edward F. Shea called Lafontaine a "genuine threat to the public," according to KNDU-TV.