A Washington woman is in federal custody on allegations that she taped herself having sex with a teen she met playing "World of Warcraft."
Federal prosecutors have filed child pornography charges against Jessica Pearce, 33, accusing the Centralia resident of flying a 16-year-old New Jersey boy to Washington after carrying on a sexual relationship with the youth for years.
Washington authorities arrested Pearce and recovered the runaway boy at a highway rest stop in September 2009, days after she and the boy flew to the state, according to charging documents recently unsealed in U.S. District Court at Tacoma.
Pearce was again arrested Tuesday and has since been charged by complaint with possession of child pornography.
According to charging documents, the boy's parents contacted New Jersey law enforcement on Sept. 13, 2009, after the boy disappeared. The youth's parents said he had been communicating with Pearce, whom the boy claimed was in high school.
The boy's father grew concerned in July 2009 after he discovered text messages of a sexual nature sent to his son. He told the boy to end the relationship.
According to charging papers, Pearce gave the boy a forged school identification card and flew with him from New Jersey on Sept. 11, 2009. They were stopped by police three days later at a highway rest stop.
Speaking with police, the boy said he met Pearce the year before while playing the online game "World of Warcraft," FBI Special Agent John Mesisca told the court. The boy, who was 15 at the time, said he initially told Pearce he was 24 but came clean about his age months later.
On three occasions, Pearce flew to meet with the boy in New Jersey, Mesisca continued. On one occasion she brought her 6-year-old child with her.
Following the final visit, the boy left with Pearce for Washington, the FBI agent told the court. He left his parents a note saying he was going to New York and that they should not look for him.
A search would later reveal the pair had exchanged explicit photos. Federal prosecutors contend Pearce also has photos of them having sex.
Speaking with detectives, Pearce allegedly admitted to having sex with the boy and flying him to Washington.
"Pearce stated that she lived with her parents … however she had an apartment and stated that she was moving in with (the boy) because they were getting married and would live together as a family," Mesisca told the court.
"Pearce," the agent continued, "stated that she and (the boy) did not use any form of contraception because they 'were going to make a family.'"
Taken into custody Tuesday, Pearce is expected to appear in court Friday. She is currently jailed at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac
