Scott McCabe, The Examiner
2008-02-21 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

A D.C. police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to seeking sex with a 14-year-old at a friend’s home. Kenneth Longerbeam, 39, an 11-year member of the Metropolitan Police Department, faces up to 30 years in prison but will likely be sentenced to about four years under federal sentencing guidelines, prosecutors said.

As a condition of his plea, Longerbeam, of Gwynn Oak, Md., is required to resign from the D.C. police department and register as a sexual offender.

“This case tragically illustrates that child predators come from all walks of life, even those sworn to uphold the law,” U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor said.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Longerbeam admitted that on Dec. 18, he went to a friend’s house to have sex with a teenage boy. The friend was cooperating with authorities.

Longerbeam was beginning his late-night shift when he received a text message from the cooperating witness who told the officer that he had a boy coming over to have sex, documents said.

Longerbeam asked how old the child was and whether the boy was “into 3 ways,” according to court documents. When the friend replied in the affirmative, Longerbeam responded, “Kool, when can join?”

When Longerbeam showed up at the home early that morning, he was arrested. Police found lubricant and a laptop computer, court documents said.

He was still wearing his D.C. police uniform, law enforcement sources told The Examiner at the time of his apprehension.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said any actions that betray the trust of the community would not be tolerated.

“Longerbeam’s actions are contrary to everything the department stands for,” she said in a statement.

The federal sting was similar to one that netted a senator’s aide in November.

Last week, James Michael McHaney, a 28-year-old aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., pleaded guilty to charges of possession of child pornography. McHaney faces eight to 10 years in prison.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com