Online Sexual Predator Arrested-Additional Victims Possible
On June 17, 2016, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Unit Detective Brandon Armstrong arrested 42-year-old Shaun D. Jesse, a registered sex offender, for Communications with a Minor for Immoral Purposes and Fugitive from Justice. The Fugitive from Justice charge stems from a warrant issued in Kootenai County by Coeur d’Alene Police Department Detectives after the investigation revealed additional victims living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
At the end of April 2016, Detective Armstrong began looking into a report of Jesse using Facebook Messenger to send sexually graphic images and messages to a 16-year-old female victim. During the investigation, Detective Armstrong found Jesse used his Facebook account to send 18 unsolicited messages to the victim, four of which included pictures of Jesse with his genitalia exposed. In the written text, Jesse offered or requested to have sexual contact with the victim as well as offer her drugs.
Detective Armstrong contacted Coeur d’Alene Police Department Detectives after he identified additional juvenile female victims living in Coeur d’Alene who Jesse contacted in the same way.
On June 17, 2016 Detective Armstrong arrested Jesse from Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes. Jesse, a registered sex offender stemming from a 2003 incident where he was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 16 Years Old in Idaho, is also held as a Fugitive from Justice charge for an outstanding Idaho warrant with a $200,000 bond. The warrant was sought by Coeur d’Alene Police Detectives working collaboratively with Deputy Armstrong on this investigation. The warrant was issued for two counts of Enticing a Child Through the Use of the Internet and for Disseminating Harmful Material.
Detective Armstrong believes Jesse may have contacted additional victims using the internet that have not yet been identified. The attached picture is of a very distinctive tattoo observed on Jesse’s abdomen which detective believe additional victims may recognize.
If you believe you have been a victim of Jesse, or can provide any information regarding these incidents, you are urged to contact Detective Armstrong at 509-477-6610.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Public Information Officer