t

Kent Police played key role in man’s 25-year sentence for sex crimes

SeaTac man, 38, also faces child rape charges after guilty plea to sexual abuse of children

Four Kent Police detectives led an investigation into a sexual crime case that resulted in the sentencing of a 38-year-old SeaTac man to 25 years in prison for federal felonies related to child sexual abuse.

Brandan L. Wilkins, also faces three counts of rape of a child in King County Superior Court for the alleged abuse of a child that reportedly began when the youth was 8 years old, according to charging papers filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Wilkins pleaded guilty in February 2021 to the federal charges to travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor; possession of child pornography; receipt of child pornography; and enticement of a minor, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Wilkins posed as a young teen online to pressure youngsters to send him sexually explicit images.

At the March 2 sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour noted that the sexual abuse of minors had occurred over a long period of time, and he said he was “particularly offended” by examples of Wilkins electronic chats with young children where he pressured them to send him sexually explicit images.

“Mr. Wilkins’ pattern of predatory and dangerous conduct left a trail of traumatized children in his wake,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “This lengthy sentence and the lifetime of supervised release imposed, are necessary to protect the children in our community.”

According to records filed in the case, in July 2018 an electronic service provider notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an internet account later linked to the defendant received a video of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The Kent Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, each part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated the case.

Kent detectives identified Wilkins as the owner of the internet account. A search of his online activity revealed Wilkins was posing as a 13-year-old boy to solicit sexually explicit pictures from young teens. When law enforcement served a search warrant at Wilkins’ SeaTac residence, they seized electronic devices containing thousands of images of child pornography.

When law enforcement searched Wilkins’ wallet, they found a student ID card for a child that Wilkins had befriended. Interviews with Wilkins and the youth revealed Wilkins had traveled with the youth to various locations to engage in sexual activity, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2009 and 2011, Wilkins traveled with the youth who was then 12-years old to Disneyland and other locations where he engaged in sexual activity with the child. Wilkins admits he posed as a ‘father figure’ for the youth so he could have access to the child. The abuse allegedly began when the child was just 8 years old.

Wilkins told detectives that he was not the child’s father but a family friend who was a father figure.

Wilkins was employed as a TSA agent at Sea-Tac Airport. He has been in custody since his arrest in December 2018. King County officials are in the process of moving Wilkins from federal custody into the county jail to face the child rape charges.

If found guilty, King County prosecutors plan to ask for a 25-year sentence for Wilkins to run concurrently with his federal sentence.

In asking for the lengthy federal sentence and lifetime supervised release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote the following message to the court:

“By sexually exploiting his many victims, the defendant has forever impacted their lives in ways that may have significant long-term health consequences,” Gregson wrote. “What these victims endured at his hands has the potential for severe lifelong psychological consequences to their self-esteem and well-being.”

Kent Police issued a statement March 3 about the case thanking the detective unit for “their tireless work, inter-agency collaboration and sheer will to put a predator of children behind bars.”

“It was a long journey, predicated by hours of grueling work,”according to the statement.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property