TRI-CITIES  (AP) — A Washington state man who tried to meet up with a federal officer posing as a 13-year-old girl to have sex on three separate occasions has been sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison.

The Tri-City Herald reports that Dale Weber of West Richland was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a minor.

One of the meetings he arranged with the undercover officer was supposed to happen in Oregon.

Court documents say authorities began pursuing 53-year-old Weber after responding to a Tri-Cities Craigslist ad seeking a "naughty young girl" in 2014.

Weber said during Wednesday's hearing that he takes responsibility for his actions.

The case against Weber was U.S. Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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