Fairchild airman arrested in sting

A ranking airman connected to a secret U.S. military operation is accused of having inappropriate conduct over the Internet with someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl.

Joshua M. O’Farrell was arrested at his Airway Heights home on four counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, according to a Spokane County Superior Court document.

O’Farrell was released from jail Wednesday under conditions that he not contact minors and remain in Spokane County.

O’Farrell is a sergeant in the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, which oversees the Survival School at Fairchild Air Force Base. While much of what JPRA does is classified, it often is involved in tracking and helping rescue U.S. military and civilian hostages around the world.

The 27-year-old has been under investigation by an Oregon sheriff’s detective since January, according to the probable cause affidavit. O’Farrell allegedly contacted the girl, who was actually an undercover detective, via Yahoo instant messenger.

During six chats between the two, “americanfun4u” – O’Farrell’s alleged screen name – described what he’d do sexually to the girl, talked about meeting her at a hotel room in Oregon and touched himself in front of his Webcam, the court document states. Authorities tracked the Internet address to O’Farrell.

Once the Clackamas County sheriff’s detective in Oregon determined where “americanfun4u” lived, the case was forwarded to Airway Heights police.

Detectives arrested O’Farrell early Wednesday at his Airway Heights home, where he lives with his wife, said Airway Heights police Chief Lee Bennett. Computers and cell phones were among the items seized from the home.

An administrative investigation is being conducted by a division of the Air Force.

“The Air Force takes allegations of misconduct by any airman seriously, investigates the allegations fully, and takes appropriate action,” said 1st Lt. Tristan Hinderliter, chief of public affairs at Fairchild.