UPDATE - Judge Karen Orzech placed James Scott Richey on $100,000 bail after hearing from Deputy County Attorney Suzie Boylen.

"Though this defendant has a very limited criminal history, this particular offense is quite serious in terms of a risk to the community," Boylen said. "I spoke this morning with his girlfriend who was quite shocked by this incident. If my information is correct, she actually owns the business and he no longer has a job there. She does not want him to come home or have contact with her children. I am asking for bail of $100,000, and that he have no contact with children under the age of 18."

A Missoula man, James Scott Richey, 41, was arrested on May 9 for allegedly arranging to have sex with an underage girl.

Missoula Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Welsh said Richey placed an ad on Craigslist looking for a sexual encounter.

"Mr. Richey engaged in a sexual conversation with a persona he believed to be a 14 year-old girl," Sergeant Welsh said. "After placing an ad on the internet, the conversation turned sexual and there was an agreement to meet at a specific location here in town. Upon Mr. Richey's arrival, he was arrested by Missoula police officers."

As opposed to the recent sting operation last December instigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in which seven individuals were arrested and charged, this encounter was proposed by the alleged perpetrator.

"The ad caught the attention of Detective Chris Shermer, and the operation commenced on this one specific case," Welsh said. "Richey was arrested on Friday evening just after 11 o'clock, however, the arrest was the culmination of about a month-long investigation."

Richey will appear in Missoula Justice Court on Monday afternoon, May 12.

Missoula Police Department Public Information Officer Travis Welsh

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