KENNEWICK, Wash. — A Washington father and former pastor entangled in a child sex sting has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
The Tri-City Herald reports 41-year-old John M. Scheline was ordered Wednesday to serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 58 months after pleading guilty this summer to attempted second-degree rape of a child.
The sex crime carries a mandatory maximum life term, meaning it will be up to a state review to decide how long Scheline will stay behind bars.
Scheline was one of the 26 men arrested in a 2017 online child sex sting in the Tri-Cities area that used ads on sites such as Craigslist and Backpage.com to identify would-be predators.
He previously worked at a Pasco church and a Montana Christian center.
More news from KIRO 7
- Teen suspects arrested after Burien woman killed at work by stray bullet
- Aberdeen shooting: Woman, 26, kills self, 3 others in 'horrific' Rite Aid center incident
- 8 shootings reported in Western Washington Wednesday
- Parent claims bus driver forced students to stand on moving bus because they're white
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Associated Press