A Castle Rock man arrested following what authorities describe as a citizen-run or vigilante-style sting operation pleaded not guilty this week in Cowlitz County Superior Court, according to court filings reviewed Wednesday.

The defendant, whose name was confirmed in public record filings but withheld here pending additional verification, entered the plea during a Tuesday appearance. The charges, related to online sexual communication and attempted contact with a minor, stem from a confrontation organized by a small group of private individuals who had been posing as underage participants online.

Law enforcement sources confirm the man was taken into custody by Cowlitz County authorities after the group allegedly turned over collected digital communications and video evidence. It remains unclear whether police had any prior knowledge of the sting before the encounter took place.

The prosecutor’s office has not issued a formal statement on whether any part of the evidence gathered by the vigilante group will be admissible in court—an issue that often arises in such cases, where citizen-led stings risk crossing legal boundaries around entrapment, privacy, and evidence handling. A case management hearing is expected to be scheduled later this month.

The use of citizen or vigilante stings has been controversial nationwide. While proponents argue they expose predatory behavior, critics—including many law enforcement agencies—warn that such actions can compromise legitimate investigations and endanger both participants and the accused.

Residents of Castle Rock and surrounding areas have expressed concern online about the legality of vigilante-led efforts and the potential impact such cases could have on future prosecutions.

Columbia Countercurrent has submitted records requests to the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Castle Rock Police Department seeking additional context about how local officials handled this case after receiving evidence from the group.

More information will be provided as court proceedings continue and official statements are made public.