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.

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

Port Angeles man in court on child sex charges

PORT ANGELES – A man accused of two sex crimes against children… Continue reading

Forks man sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison

Calloway pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter

Port Angeles man arrested for attempted strangulation

Judge issues two no-contact orders to protect victims

Man in standoff to be referred for mental evaluation

The man involved in a seven-hour standoff last week… Continue reading

Standoff suspect has a long court history

Accused remained in jail on Friday

Accused murder suspect is dead

Man was on court order at hospital

July 10 trial set for woman accused of trafficking to minors

Defendant identifies as 15-year-old boy

OPNET arrests armed felon after foot pursuit

A man wanted in Utah was tackled on a… Continue reading

Port Angeles woman to be arrainged on trafficking to minors charge

A 35-year-old Port Angeles woman who said she identifies… Continue reading

Port Angeles police and Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies gather at the scene of a standoff that forced closure of the 1100 block of East Third Street on Wednesday afternoon. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
UPDATE: Streets reopened after Port Angeles standoff

Law enforcement officers have reopened streets that were blocked… Continue reading

Port Orchard woman accused of stolen property, illegal drugs

A Port Orchard woman was arrested for investigation of… Continue reading

Port Angeles man accused of child porn possession, dealing

A Port Angeles man is scheduled for arraignment Friday… Continue reading