County fair worker faces child luring charges

TACOMA -- A 50-year-old carnival operator from Nevada is under arrest and accused of serious crimes against children.

Bryan McCann, 50, was working Sunday at the Pierce County Fair in Graham when he was allegedly spotted sitting outside a barn where young children were tending to horses and livestock. McCann was not slated to be at the fair until later in the day for cleanup.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, witnesses told deputies that after some time, McCann entered the barn and asked a sixth-grader and a 5-year-old girl their names and what times they were leaving. After some time in the barn, children complained to a parent in 4-H that the man was being rude and cursing, so the parent decided to watch McCann, deputies said.



The parent allegedly spotted the man leave one horse barn and enter another. The parent then watched as the man walked up to a 9-year-old 4-H member and placed himself in her personal space and offered the girl a hand, prosecutors said. The girl allegedly shook her head no just as an older 16-year-old girl stepped in to intervene.

The little girl later told police McCann asked if she wanted to go on rides, prosecutors said. She told police she was scared of him.

Witnesses called deputies who interviewed everyone involved. McCann was placed under arrest, during which time he made comments about suicide and homicide, according to court documents.

McCann is being charged with child luring and second-degree attempted kidnapping.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before a judge at an arraignment hearing in Pierce County Wednesday afternoon. His bail was set at $250,000.

A Portland-based company called Funtastic employed McCann. A spokesman said he passed the background checks and that McCann only worked at a couple of locations before the arrest.

The Pierce County Fair ended last Sunday, Aug. 10.