A Navy man is facing a felony charge after being caught in an Anacortes Police Department’s undercover operation to catch sexual predators on Craigslist, court document indicate.

Jovanny A. Natareno, 24, of Oak Harbor, was charged in Skagit County Superior Court on Nov. 27 with communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Anacortes police’s operation targeted people who seek children for sexual encounters through the “casual encounters” category on the website Craigslist.

The detectives posed as a 13-year-old girl “looking for a more mature type of friendship” and posted a photo that depicted a current law enforcement officer when she was 12 or 13 years old, according to a report by Detective Mike Hansen.

Natareno contacted the “girl” through email and text messages.

After acknowledging her age as 13, Natareno allegedly asked for nude photos of her, asked whether she was on birth control and inquired whether she “was interested in exploring sex together with him,” the report states.

Natareno directed the undercover officer to a fetish website and asked what caught her eye, according to the report.

Natanero agreed to meet with the would-be girl in Anacortes, but got nervous and failed to follow through, the detective wrote.

The detective coordinated with Naval Criminal Investigative Service before arresting Natareno Nov. 26 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Natareno allegedly told the detective that he was also being investigated by the Navy for offering to sell methamphetamine and soliciting prostitution on Craigslist, the report states.

“Jovanny Natanero suggested he was initially just looking for someone to connect with and was surprised himself that he continued with the communication to the 13-year-old (undercover identity),” the detective wrote.

A judge in Skagit County District Court released Natareno on his personal recognizance Nov. 27 and ordered him not to have contact with children under the age of 16.