Grays River resident Patrick Shane Hargitt, 37, pled guilty to two counts of possession of depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree on July 6 before Judge Heidi Heywood in Wahkiakum Superior Court.

On September 14, before Judge Donald Richter, he was sentenced to 29 months for each count, which will be served consecutively, followed by 36 months of probation.

A cyber tip alerted authorities after several images and a video of suspected depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were uploaded to Kik, an instant messaging application, on or around February 11, 2020.

Multiple search warrants were drafted and served on several internet service providers to obtain subscriber information belonging to the person who uploaded the images.

On April 29, officers from Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children Task Force conducted surveillance to determine who was at a residence in Grays River, where they found Hargitt, his sister, his mother, and step-father. A residential search warrant for the seizure and forensic examination of any and all electronic devices used in the commission of a crime was authorized and served the following day by WSP Missing and Exploited Children Task Force detectives and other local and federal agencies after all occupants were removed from the home.

WSP High Tech Crimes Unit forensically reviewed Hargitt’s devices and found a sexually explicit four picture collage involving minors.

The maximum penalty for each conviction is 10 years or a $20,000 fine, plus restitution, assessments, and court costs.

Hargitt is to have no contact with persons under the age of 18 unless specific permission is given. He cannot access, possess, or peruse any sexually explicit material that contains minors. He must undergo an evaluation for sex offender treatment and participate in sex offender treatment.