Moses Lake man arrested on suspicion of rape of a child
A Moses Lake man was arrested for rape of a child and sexual exploitation of a minor after an investigation by the Othello and Moses Lake police departments.
COURTESY PHOTO/OTHELLO POLICE DEPARTMENT
OTHELLO — A Moses Lake man has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree rape of a child and sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a media release from the Othello Police Department. The arrest follows the investigation into a report from a 20-year-old Moses Lake woman to the Moses Lake and Othello police departments that the man had engaged in a sexual relationship with her when she was a minor.
Eli Esparza, 38, was arrested Monday on suspicion of second-degree rape of a child, third-degree rape of a child, sexual exploitation of a minor, first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the OPD release said.
The woman told police officers that Esparza sent her a video depicting sexual activity between them in December 2025, according to the OPD release.
“The woman disclosed she was 15 years old at the time the video was recorded,” the OPD release said. “Further investigation revealed the woman met Esparza when she was 13 years old and maintained a sexual relationship with him over several years. She stated that Esparza, formerly from Othello, would pick her up in Moses Lake, drive her to Othello and engage in sexual activity during these visits.”
Othello Police Chief Brent McFarlane said in a separate interview that investigation determined Esparza met the victim on an online platform. Most sexual predators now search for their victims online, he said, and parents should make sure they know what their children are doing on their phones and computers.
“I highly encourage parents to keep an eye on online activity and cell phone activity,” McFarlane said.
Parents should monitor their children’s online contact and know who their kids are talking to, he said.
Esparza was booked into the Franklin County Jail. The case is still under investigation, the OPD release said. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) also were part of the investigation, it said.
“This case underscores the importance of collaborative efforts across jurisdictional boundaries to protect our most vulnerable populations,” the release said.