SPOKANE, WA – A coordinated law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service resulted in the arrest of a man wanted on multiple child-rape and sexual-exploitation charges in Spokane on Friday morning.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Judson Whitney Morris III was taken into custody around 8:42 a.m. on November 21 on W. Boone Avenue. Morris III is charged with six counts of Rape of a Child in the First Degree, two counts of Child Molestation in the First Degree, one count of Rape of a Child in the Second Degree, one count of Rape of a Child in the Third Degree, and two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The Tacoma Police Department began the investigation and secured warrants after allegations were made against Morris III. Authorities say he fled the Tacoma area prior to the warrants being issued.
Investigators from multiple agencies worked together to locate Morris III in Spokane, including the FBI Seattle Field Division, the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST), the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tacoma Police Department. The FBI shared intelligence with the U.S. Marshals Service to support the operation.
The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) with assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force—Spokane, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN team. Morris III was taken into custody without incident.
U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington Craig Thayer said the arrest underscores the strength of cooperation among federal, state, and local agencies.
“This arrest reflects the strength of our partnerships and the teamwork that exists between our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,” Thayer stated. “It underscores our unified commitment to protecting children and holding those who harm them accountable.”
The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force includes federal, state, and local officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Its mission is to locate and arrest individuals considered among the most violent or dangerous fugitives in the region.
Anyone with information relevant to fugitive investigations is encouraged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, call the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit tips at USMS Tips.
