WSP detectives arrest Pierce County man following child exploitation investigation

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), in collaboration with federal and state partners, last week arrested a Pierce County man following an undercover investigation into child exploitation and human trafficking.

In May 2026, MECTF investigators, posing as a 13-year-old girl, communicated online with Marquercus S. Gant, 38.

During those communications, Gant allegedly expressed a desire to meet the girl and offered to pay her in exchange for sexual acts, according to a news release from the WSP.

Investigators later confirmed that Gant is a registered sex offender with a prior arrest history in Arkansas.

On June 5, members of the WSP SWAT Team, working in coordination with the FBI and MECTF detectives, arrested Gant as he waited inside his vehicle for what he believed would be a meeting with the 13-year-old girl.

Following his arrest, Gant was booked into the Pierce County Jail on charges of second-degree attempted rape of a child, attempted commercial sex abuse of a minor and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Bail has been set at $750,000.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who suspects they have been impacted or has information related to this case is urged to contact MECTF at 360-704-2397 or via email at MECTF@wsp.wa.gov.

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