A Port Townsend man arrested last summer in a sting operation by the Port Townsend Police Department pled guilty Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court to second-degree attempted child molestation and two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Gregory Guy Cremarosa, 60, had been facing a charge of second-degree attempted rape of a child. He pleaded “not guilty” to the three felony charges in July.

In a change-of-plea hearing April 22, Cremarosa pleaded to the three charges in short order before Superior Court Judge Keith Harper:

“Guilty, your honor.”

“Guilty, sir.”

“Guilty, your honor.”

Sentencing was set for May 20.

During Friday’s hearing, Harper noted the standard sentencing range of 42.75 months to 56.25 months for second-degree attempted child molestation, and a $25,000 fine.

On the charges of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, the standard range was a maximum five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, the judge said.

Community custody following a prison sentence would also be imposed, as well as the requirement to register as a sex offender.

Harper also ordered a pre-sentence investigation be conducted before Cremarosa’s next appearance in court.

Cremarosa was arrested after police said he tried to lure multiple young girls back to his boat and made plans to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

He was arrested July 1 at Chetzemoka Park during a sting operation overseen by the Port Townsend Police Department that included assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol Missing and Exploited Children Task Force.

His arrest followed a series of text messages that Cremarosa sent to an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old.

Police were alerted to Cremarosa after two 15-year-old girls said he starting “hitting on them” at the Port Townsend Skate Park in June and gave them his phone number.

Following the reports, Port Townsend police contacted the Washington State Patrol for assistance and two detectives from the State Patrol contacted one of the girls Cremarosa had approached and were able to make contact with him via text message.

Using the girl’s phone, detectives were able to introduce a fictitious persona of a 13-year-old named “Leah” for the investigation. Over the course of about a week, Cremarosa engaged in increasingly explicit sexual conversations with the undercover officer who was posing as the 13-year-old.

Detectives arranged for Cremarosa to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old at Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend.

Upon arriving at the park, he allegedly texted the detectives with the message: “I am here baby.”

Officers then arrested Cremarosa as he approached the entrance to Chetzemoka Park.