Seattle hospital worker accused of paying girl, 15, for sex

SEATTLE -- A Seattle Children's Hospital worker accused of pickup up a teenage girl and paying her $40 in exchange for sexual contact is facing felony charges.

Seattlepi.com reports that the 31-year-old suspect has been charged with commercial sex abuse of a minor in connection with the alleged incident late last month. He has since been placed on administrative leave from his job as a respiratory therapist at Seattle Children's Laurelhurst hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman says the worker's background check did not indicate he had any previous criminal history.

Prosecutors say the suspect picked up the girl off a street corner and then drove her to a parking garage, where he had sexual contact with the 15-year-old girl.

Charging papers say the girl told the suspect she was 21.