71-year-old ‘high-risk’ sex offender pleads guilty to child porn in Skagit County

A 71-year-old man from Skagit County pleaded guilty on Thursday to possessing images of child sexual abuse, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Teal Luthy Miller.

Alan Lewis Meirhofer faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on June 2, 2025.

Court records reveal that Meirhofer lured teenage boys in the Skagit County area to his home, offering gifts like alcohol, cash and marijuana. When one of the boys borrowed Meirhofer’s phone, he discovered photos of the teens that Meirhofer had sent to a group chat. The boy’s mother reported the incident to police, which led to Meirhofer’s arrest in March 2021. His electronic devices were seized as evidence.

Following the arrest, the FBI sought tips related to any internet accounts connected to Meirhofer. Over a dozen reports were received, leading to the discovery of images of child sexual abuse.

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Meirhofer’s extensive criminal record

On July 17, 2024, Meirhofer was taken into federal custody.

He has an extensive criminal record, including convictions for burglary, kidnapping and rape, according to the attorney’s office. In 1990, he was convicted of burglary with a deadly weapon. He was later civilly committed to the Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Center on McNeil Island but was released in 2017 as a registered level 3 sex offender, a designation indicating a high risk of reoffending, as stated in the news release.

The investigation was conducted by the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police Department, FBI and the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.