Three in court on sex charges following sting

Three men caught following law enforcement sting operations appeared in court Friday, after they were arrested after allegedly trying to contact and meet underage girls for sex.

Terrence Dean Nelson, 56, of Washougal, was arrested on suspicion of attempted second-degree rape of a child.

Sean Stirling Dotson, 50, of Forest Grove, Ore., was arrested on suspicion of attempted third-degree rape of a child and felony communications with a minor for immoral purposes.

Jeffrey James Graham, 51, of Milwaukie, Ore., was arrested on suspicion of felony communications with a minor for immoral purposes.

All three were in Clark County Superior Court Friday for their first appearance hearing.

The three were arrested Thursday at a house in east Vancouver after responding to online ads placed by undercover police officers, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

The court granted Graham and Dotson supervised releases. Nelson’s bail was set at $10,000.

The court set Graham and Dotson’s arraignment hearings, where the two may be formally charged, for Feb. 2.

Nelson will be arraigned Jan. 22.