KINGMAN – James Gastineau of Kingman is the latest to enter a plea agreement in a Mohave County Sheriff’s Office sting operation targeting sexual predators. More than two dozen men have been charged in recent years for sexually explicit communication with a detective they presumed to be an underage female teenager.

Gastineau, 44, pleaded guilty Sept. 21 to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation. Authorities said one charge involves an image that Gastineau sent to the detective and the other is connected to his request for images in return.

Gastineau faces possible probation and jail time when sentenced Nov. 4, but he could also get up to 10 years in prison. Many case defendants entered plea agreements involving 5–10-year prison outcomes and the two who went to trial ended up with prison sentences beyond 30 years.

Dave Hawkins