(c) The Spokesman-Review
An 18-year-old Spokane high school senior meets someone who sayshe's 53 in a gay chat room online.
After talking for several weeks using the online alias'Cobra82nd,' the older man suggests the two meet for a dinner date,and the teenager accepts.
The older man arrives in his late-model blue Lexus convertible ona warm June evening, and the two talk face to face for the firsttime over dinner at a trendy restaurant in north Spokane.
Afterward, the young man picks up the tab. He smiles as he'sgiven the keys to the convertible in the restaurant parking lot.
Minutes later, while driving curvy roads north of the city, heasks the older man, whom he doesn't recognize, what he does for aliving.
'He basically asked, 'Can I trust you?' ' the young man said in arecent interview.
'I'm like, 'Yeah,' ' he continued. 'I think this guy's crazy.What now? Then he says like, 'I'm the mayor of Spokane.'
'I was kind of silent for a minute,' the young man said,recalling his disbelief, 'but then it clicked: his face, TVcommercials, stuff like that.'
Until that moment last summer, the young man, who asked that hisname not be used, said he had no idea he was on a date with SpokaneMayor Jim West.
The evening ended with consensual sex, according to the youngman, who has not told his family about his personal life. 'I'venever wanted to see him again after that.'
The young man's story raised questions for the newspaper. If Westwas online at Gay.com, was it the public's right to know? Would itbe the public's business if West was using city computers to chatduring his working hours as mayor? What if he was using the Internetto meet people who weren't 18, the legal age of consent? Was heabusing his public office in any other way?
The questions became a critical part of the ongoing investigationinto the sex abuse allegations against West.
To verify the 18-year-old's allegations that Cobra82nd was JimWest, the newspaper asked the young man to save any additionalonline conversations between them.
In November and December, they talked again. This time, the 18-year-old said, the man changed his online screen name from Cobra82nd- a possible reference to the helicopters West flew in while aparatrooper in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division - to 'RightBi-Guy.'
The paper then hired a forensic computer expert in November tohelp verify the young man's allegations that West was online.
The expert, a former federal agent who asked not to be identifiedfor these stories, has helped track child pornography through theuse of online chat technology.
The computer expert registered on Gay.com as 'Moto-Brock,' afictitious 18-year-old Ferris High School senior questioning his ownsexuality and eager to met older gay or bisexual men. Once in thechat room, which has a policy that all participants be 18, theconsultant changed his age to 17 because the newspaper wanted toknow whether West was using the Web to meet underage children.
Within two months, Moto-Brock and RightBi-Guy were discussing sexin the Gay.com chat room, and the dialogues were being recorded bythe newspaper's consultant.
West, interviewed Wednesday, admitted his online relationshipswith the 18-year-old and Moto-Brock.
After a long pause in the interview, he said, 'They were bothadults, and I was in public office when I dated women in thiscommunity. So what's your point?'
According to the transcripts of those online conversations,RightBi-Guy was the first person to raise the issue of sex.
He also suggested that he and Moto-Brock switch theirconversations from Gay.com to America Online instant messaging,which is transitory in nature and disappears quickly unless stepsare taken to record chats.
Over a period of several months, RightBi-Guy offered Moto-Brockautographed sports memorabilia, prime seats for Seahawks andMariners games, help getting into college, an internship in theSpokane mayor's office and the promise of trips to Washington, D.C.
In mid-March, Moto-Brock told RightBi-Guy that he'd turned 18.
On two occasions, RightBi-Guy appeared to believe he was engagingin mutual online masturbation with Moto-Brock, according totranscripts of the explicit exchanges.
Asked about simulating masturbation online with a teenager, Westsaid Wednesday, 'You have a better memory than I do.' He declined anoffer to look at the transcripts of the dialogue.
'We never had sex online,' West said of his relationship withMoto-Brock. 'You've got words on paper.'
According to the online conversations, RightBi-Guy asked Moto-Brock to meet him for golf at Indian Canyon at 10 a.m. April 10. SoMoto-Brock would know whom to look for, RightBi-Guy e-mailed him hispicture.
The picture was of West. He also e-mailed Moto-Brock a link tothe mayor's Web page on the Spokane City Hall site.
Three people affiliated with The Spokesman-Review reported seeingWest arrive at the course in his blue Lexus at 9:45 a.m. April 10.He was seen looking around the parking lot. As he waited for Moto-Brock, he purchased two buckets of balls and kicked one of themacross the driving range.
The two never met in person. Shortly after that failed meeting,the consultant was asked by the newspaper to stop communicatingonline with RightBi-Guy. But West subsequently sent the consultanttwo more e-mails, including a final message sent April 28. Sent fromthe mayor's office, the e-mail has 'internship' in its subject line.The e-mail asks Moto-Brock 'still interested?'
While the consultant was online over a period of a couple ofmonths, the newspaper attempted to identify other young men listedon West's Gay.com profiles as his 'hot picks' and 'buddies.'
One of them, a 19-year-old Eastern Washington University student,was identified and located for an interview. He asked not to beidentified in this story, but he confirmed that he was one ofRightBi-Guy's 'hot picks.' The EWU student said he and RightBi-Guychatted online several times, but haven't met.
'He sounds a little too old for me,' the student said.
He said he did not know the real identity of RightBi-Guy.
The following are excerpts from online conversations betweenRightBi-Guy and Moto-Brock from February to April.
Background: In their first online chat Feb. 19, RightBi-Guy sayshe's home watching Gonzaga beat San Diego in West Coast Conferencebasketball. Within the first 100 words of their conversation,recorded by the newspaper's consultant, RightBi-Guy brings up thetopic of sex. He also appears to be trying to impress the young man,claiming he gets sports perks, knows Microsoft founder Bill Gatesand baseball star Edgar Martinez and has a job that allows him to'hang out with rich people.'
Moto-Brock: 'What kind of stuff do you do?'
RightBi-Guy: 'For fun or are you talking sex here?'
Moto-Brock: LOL (laughing out loud)
RightBi-Guy: 'I like to camp, hike, scuba dive, boat.'
Moto-Brock: 'Oh, man, I always wanted to learn how to scuba. Itjust looks so cool.'
RightBi-Guy: 'It is. I used to be an instructor. Learned in theArmy. Paratrooper.'
Later, after small talk about sports, RightBi-Guy asks if Moto-Brock is interested in girls.
Moto-Brock: 'You know I try to. I go out on dates and stuff.'
RightBi-Guy: 'What did you think of when you shower at school?'
Moto-Brock: 'I try like hell not to get hard.'
RightBi-Guy: 'Okay, then I remember that from my school days. HaHa Ha.'
Moto-Brock: 'Keep the conversation light. Think about homework,stuff like that.'
RightBi-Guy: 'I see. Hey, I'm enjoying this. Do you get turned onby guys?'
Moto-Brock: 'Yes. I know I'm gay or at least very bi-sexual.'
RightBi-Guy: 'I think I was in the same place when I was yourage. I dated because I was expected to.'
RightBi-Guy: 'I've always liked people younger than me. Just feltmore comfortable with people either younger or older.'
RightBi-Guy: 'My name is Jim, by the way.'
Moto-Brock: 'I'm Brock.'
RightBi-Guy ends the conversation by telling Moto-Brock that heprefers chatting through America Online's 'instant messaging,' wherehost monitoring is less likely than on a Web site such as Gay.com.He also says he has to go to a 'cancer fund-raising dinner' butwould rather remain online with Moto-Brock.
Moto-Brock: 'Man you have my curiosity up about your job.'
RightBi-Guy: 'When we meet, I'll tell you.'
Background: Their second conversation occurs a week later, onFeb. 26, another Saturday, through AOL's instant messaging, withWest using the screen name 'JMSElton,' apparently derived from hisfull name, James Elton West. Moto-Brock complains that his parentsdon't give him enough privacy.
JMSElton: 'Kids get into a lot of trouble in today's world.Parents should be concerned.'
The two then talk about various people that JMSElton knows,including Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Moto-Brock: 'God you know so many people. You know it reallymakes me feel a little better about my future if you have been sosuccessful and are gay.'
JMSElton: 'Remember, I'm very closeted. No one knows I like guys.Except the few guys I've been with and highly trusted.'
JMSElton: 'It's just that the openly gay guys are a little overthe top for me. I don't really like the in-your-face attitude someguys have. And the massive political agenda either. I say live andlet live. Most gay guys turn me off, too.'
Later in the conversation, JMSElton asks Moto-Brock about aFerris teacher accused of having sex with a female student.
JMSElton: 'Don't have sex the first time you meet someone. Youdon't know what they've been doing or what disease they might have.Whatever you do, don't go anal with anyone.'
Moto-Brock tells JMSElton that he'll turn 18 on March 10.JMSElton wishes him happy birthday and says he wants to send apresent of his choosing.
JMSElton: 'What do you want? My autographed basketball from the2003-04 Zags? My autographed football from the 2002 Seahawks? Myautographed football signed by Paul Allen and Dennis Erickson? Or myEdgar Martinez autographed rookie card that I got two weeks ago whenhe was in town? Or maybe you'd like my autographed Seahawks, signedby No. 1 Warren Moon?'
The conversation changes course.
JMSElton: 'I still date women once in a while. Last weekend Iwent to a charity dinner auction and took a date.'
Moto-Brock: 'I don't hate being around them (women) or anything.They just don't turn me on that way.
JMSElton: 'Understand. But kissing me would do it?'
Moto-Brock: 'Umm, sure feels like it.'
JMSElton: 'Okay, well, I'm off to bed. Be careful out there. Weshould meet up sometime.'
Background: Their third online chat, again using instantmessaging, occurs March 8. When JMSElton asks for a picture, Moto-Brock sends a random photo of a young, dark-haired athletic-lookingman.
Apparently believing the picture to be that of Moto-Brock,JMSElton says he's handsome, 'real stud material.'
JMSElton: 'I could never be into the gay scene with its politicsand all. I've just seen too many guys decide once they come out thatit becomes everyone else's problem to deal with. I'm not into femmyguys.'
JMSElton: 'It's our secret here.'
Background: The two chat online again March 8 and then March 9,mostly exchanging small talk. JMSElton says he's going toWashington, D.C., on business and mentions taking a couple of highschool interns with him on a business trip there years earlier.
Moto-Brock: 'Ohhhhh. You are killing me here. I want aninternship! So I can go to DC.'
JMSElton tells Moto-Brock he has a friend who might be able toget the teen an internship.
On March 21, Moto-Brock receives an e-mail from Spokane Mayor JimWest. It reads, in part, 'A friend of mine has asked if I wouldconsider you for an internship in the mayor's office. He informs methat you are a high school senior at Ferris High School in Spokane.... If you are interested please contact Melissa Murphy in my officeat 625-6250. She will have you fill out an application which willneed your parents' and school official's approval. We look forwardto hearing from you.'
Moto-Brock e-mails JMSElton the following:
'Holy crap, is this for real!!?!? The mayor of Spokane sending mean e-mail inviting me to apply for an internship? I can't hardlybelieve it! He is really a friend of yours? That is unreal. Well, Idon't know what to say ... 'thank you' seems like not enough.'
JMSElton replies: 'Don't thank me until you see how it works out.It should be fun and better to put on your resume than working forme.'
Background: In another AOL instant messaging conversation, Moto-Brock asks JMSElton if he's too young for him.
JMSElton: 'Careful. Let's take it slow here ok?'
Moto-Brock: LOL
JMSElton: 'I don't want to ruin our friendship before we even getstarted.'
JMSElton: 'But yes, you interest me alot.'
JMSElton: 'But I'm not sure how I would handle yourfather........or your mother...'
JMSElton: 'So you saying you are attracted to me?'
Moto-Brock: 'Well, yeah, kinda'
When JMSElton and Moto-Brock talk online April 9, they talk aboutmeeting. West electronically sends his photo during the chat, butMoto-Brock acts like he doesn't immediately recognize him. West thensends an Internet link to the mayor's biography page at City Hall.
Moto-Brock: 'So what u doing this weekend?'
JMSElton: 'Have a dinner in about an hour that I really don'twant to go to but said I would.'
Moto-Brock: 'Lucky u!'
JMSElton: 'Tomorrow afternoon I have to be somewhere at 3:30 forabout an hour. ...may golf in the morning tomorrow. ... or just goto the driving range.'
Moto-Brock: 'Want some company?'
JMSElton: 'Maybe ...you interested?'
Moto-Brock: 'Sure.'
JMSElton: 'We could hit some balls.'
The two talk for a while about sports.
JMSElton: 'You will be online tonight about 10pm?'
Moto-Brock: 'It depends on if u want to get up early to go hitsome golf balls.'
JMSElton: 'Maybe go to golf course about 10 am.'
Moto-Brock: '10am would be cool'
JMSElton: 'I still worry about meeting you.'
Moto-Brock: 'Why????????????'
Moto-Brock: 'Cause you aren't in shape? I don't care bout thatwith u'
JMSElton: 'Because guys like you don't come along very often andI want it to last. ...am I crazy here?'
Moto-Brock: 'I don't understand why it wouldn't. ...why wouldn'tour friendship last if we meet for golf swings???'
JMSElton: 'It will . ...but it will be different ... hopefullybetter but different'
Moto-Brock: 'Why? Really?'
JMSElton: 'We trust each other right?'
Moto-Brock: 'Of course.'
JMSElton then sends Moto-Brock the photo.
Moto-Brock: 'What is that?'
JMSElton: 'This is me.'
Moto-Brock: 'You are not fat ...... why would u say that Iwouldn't like u?'
JMSElton: 'I didn't say you wouldn't recognize me ... just thatyou might be surprised'
Moto-Brock: 'U have a nice face.'
JMSElton: 'You are so sweet. Thank you.'
JMSElton: 'OK, let's meet tomorrow at the driving range at IndianCanyon. Can you find that? 10am?'
JMSElton: 'I'll be driving a blue Lexus convertible. You'll be ina Ram pickup?'
Moto-Brock: 'And u look great, I'm kind of relieved.'
JMSElton: 'Good. ...that's not really what I was worried about.'
Moto-Brock: 'I thought maybe u were nervous for real reasons likeu looked really bad or something'
JMSElton then sends Moto-Brock the link to Mayor Jim West's Webpage.
JMSElton: 'Check this out, but please don't tell anyone at all.'
Moto-Brock: 'Huh? That's you?'
JMSElton: 'Does that change things alot?'
Moto-Brock: 'Holy crap.'
JMSElton: 'Shhhhhh'
Moto-Brock: 'That is u? U r screwing with me aren't u?'
JMSElton: 'Shhhhhh. No I'm not.'
Moto-Brock: 'You are who I'm applying with?'
JMSElton: 'See this is what I was afraid of. Now you won'tapply.'
Moto-Brock: 'The heck I won't!'
JMSElton: 'Well please be careful ok?'
Moto-Brock: 'Of course I will. ... I wasn't sure I should becauseI didn't think I'd get it and I didn't wanna disappoint u.'
JMSElton: 'Oh you were going to get it. Don't worry about that.'
Moto-Brock: 'Now some things u said make more sense.'
JMSElton: 'Maybe so.'
Moto-Brock: 'Like all the peeps you know. Wow, that is so cool.'
JMSElton: 'Well it's a part of my life I don't share at all andis somewhat new to me.'
JMSElton: 'And the last thing I want is some high school kidgetting into trouble because of me. ... I hope this isn't too big ofa responsibility for you.'
Moto-Brock: 'No, I'm cool and it's cool. Now I see why u get thepress box for the Cougs!'
JMSElton: 'Someday I may run for governor and this would be badif you know what I mean.'
JMSElton then gives Moto-Brock a cell phone number that Mayor JimWest uses.
When he didn't show up for golf, Moto-Brock sent an e-mail sayinga relative was sick. West responded that 'family always comes first.Always.'
After brief e-mail exchanges, Moto-Brock stopped communicating.
On April 28, he received one last e-mail from West, asking aboutthe City Hall internship.
'You still interested?' the mayor asked.
(c) The Spokesman-Review
