Sex offender accused of child luring through video gaming

KIRKLAND -- A 34-year-old sex offender is behind bars, accused of sexually exploiting a boy in Colorado through online video gaming.

Arthur Hartung, 34, of Kent,  who was convicted of child pornography 12 years ago in Pullman, was arrested earlier this month and charged with sexually exploiting a 12-year-old boy in Colorado.

Court documents say a Colorado father told police his 12-year-old son had been receiving inappropriate texts from a man he met online while playing video games. The boy told police that the suspect claimed to be 15 years old. Colorado police investigated and alerted law enforcement in Washington.

Charging papers say Hartung convinced the child to expose himself on camera in exchange for presents.

On April 18, King County sheriff's detectives got a search warrant for Hartung's Kirkland apartment. They said they found three DVDs containing child porn in addition to children's toys.

Neighbors are upset because police say the sex offender went under the radar and was unregistered in King County.

"You know, it's pretty unnerving because, you know, our kids do play just out here," said concerned parent Katri Hoban. "The building right next door, they have at least three kids."

So imagine her surprise when she learned near neighbor was a sex offender who had failed to register.

"It's definitely scary," she said.