MARYSVILLE – A 26-year-old Marysville man is one of eight men arrested over the weekend in an underage sex sting operation.

The men, who range in age from 26 to 60, all responded to online ads placed by undercover detectives posing as a 15-year-old girl.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested called the sting “Operation Anvil”, a news release says.

One suspect, a 30-year-old Seattle man, sent photographs of himself driving a school bus and showed up to meet undercover detectives still driving the bus. Another suspect, a 34-year-old Bothell man, admitted to undercover detectives that he was a teacher, the release says.

“Protecting our county’s most vulnerable citizens – our children – will always remain our number one public safety priority. Getting these predators off our streets makes our communities safer,” Sheriff Ty Trenary said.

The operation began Thursday night and ended with the last arrest at around 1 a.m. Sunday.

The following were arrested and booked:

·26-year-old Marysville man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child

·51-year-old Everett man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child and commercial sexual abuse of a minor

·35-year-old Snohomish man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child and commercial sexual abuse of a minor

·34-year-old Bothell man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child and communication with a minor for immoral purposes

·36-year-old Mountlake Terrace man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child

·60-year-old Edmonds man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child

·30-year-old Seattle man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child

·27-year-old St. Louis (Missouri) man, booked for 3rd degree attempted rape of a child