Houston Wade, a 44-year-old former college instructor and activist from Washington, found himself in handcuffs on Dec. 17 after a police sting operation in Bremerton.

Authorities arrested Wade, previously a Physics and Astronomy instructor at Edmonds College until 2022, at a hotel in Silverdale, Washington, after he allegedly attempted to meet someone he believed was an 11-year-old girl for sexual activity, though the individual was a law enforcement decoy; he now faces six charges, including commercial sex abuse of a minor, and remains in custody at Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office jail with a potential life sentence if convicted.

The incident has sparked heated discussion, with many pointing to the irony of Wade’s past public statements labeling President Donald Trump and his supporters as morally corrupt, as reported by the Lynwood Times.

From Activist to Accused: Wade’s Fall

Wade, a self-described leftist activist from Bainbridge Island, had made a name for himself with sharp online critiques of conservative figures, as Breitbart reports.

According to screenshots shared by the Libs of TikTok account, he once posted, “I’d take a bag of gravel as president over this pedophile,” referring to Trump.

Now, that same rhetoric haunts him as he faces accusations that strike at the heart of his prior condemnations.

Details of the Sting Operation Unfold

The operation began when Wade reportedly communicated via a social media app with the decoy, agreeing to meet for illicit purposes.

He traveled from his home, rented a hotel room in Silverdale, and allegedly prepared it with condoms, bondage supplies, and adult novelty items, as uncovered by police during a search warrant.

Authorities apprehended him at East Park in Bremerton after he instructed the supposed minor to meet him there, intending to transport her to the hotel, according to law enforcement reports.

Police Footage Captures Tense Arrest

Video from the YouTube profile Lanvik shows body camera footage of police surrounding Wade, a barking police dog adding to the tense atmosphere.

Officers handcuffed and searched him at the scene, with the Times noting, “Upon arriving at the agreed meeting location in Bremerton, Wade was arrested.”

Detective Brandon Smith detailed the allegations, stating, “Houston Wade committed the crime of communication with a minor for immoral purposes when he knowingly communicated with a person he believed to be an 11-year-old girl, using grooming techniques to present various sex acts he hoped to perform with her at a future date.”

Legal Consequences and Public Reaction

Detective Smith further explained the severity of the charges against Wade related to the attempted actions with the minor.

While the legal system will determine Wade’s fate, the court of public opinion is already buzzing with reactions to the case.

Many question how someone so vocal about morality could find himself in such a situation—perhaps a sobering lesson that harsh words can boomerang when least expected.