A Portland, Oregon man has been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that Marc David McCool, aged 64, was arrested on May 16, 2024, at a Seattle hotel where he allegedly intended to abuse fictitious children aged 7 and 11. Following his prison term, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed 15 years of supervised release.
Court records indicate that McCool engaged in conversations over six weeks via the Kik Messenger App with an undercover law enforcement agent who had posted an ad on social media. McCool expressed his sexual interest in children and arranged travel to Seattle with the intent to abuse two young children. He traveled by train and rideshare to the location where he was subsequently arrested. At the time of arrest, he possessed items indicative of his intentions: condoms, baby oil, rope, and stuffed animals.
During sentencing, McCool stated that his life has been irrevocably altered. He acknowledged losing everything and damaging relationships with loved ones and expressed hope for receiving treatment while incarcerated.
Judge Coughenour praised the resolution of the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation as part of the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC). Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals exploiting children online while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
