Vigilantes use app to lure Washington man accused of seeking sex with underage girls

KELSO, WA (KTRK) -- A Washington man is in custody after a group of residents posed as an underage girl and then made him turn himself in to police.

The sting went down at a park in Kelso, Washington on Thursday night.

Curtis Hart was behind the sting. He's a self proclaimed libertarian activist and on Thursday, he and his friends posted a message on "Whisper," an app where people can chat anonymously.

In the app, Hart posed as a young girl looking to hook up with older men. "Lonely Man," who turned out to be 36-year-old Adam Olsen, responded.

"Adam Olsen from up in Castle Rock messaged and it was really obvious he wanted to meet within a couple of minutes, and then it just got really vulgar from there. Quite disgusting," said Hart.

It turns out that Hart and Olsen went to school together.

In the app, Olsen described his intentions. He asked the girl's plans and told her she was 'in a relationship now.'

When Olsen agreed to meet at the park, Hart and his friends boxed Olsen in and grilled him. The group forced him to call police and turn himself in.

Kelso Police responded and looked at the cell phone video taken at the sting. They also looked at the messages from "Whisper."

Police arrested Olsen. He appeared in court on Friday and is facing charges of electronic communication with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted child rape in the second degree.

Olsen's bail is set at $50,000.

Police warned Hart that he was putting himself in danger, but he feels he has to step up.

"[Police] don't have the funds to do this and it needs to be done," said Hart.