Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, August 22, 2008

Child rape suspect held with no bail

The Oak Harbor man called one of his young victims, prosecutors allege.

By Diana Hefley
Herald writer

 OAK HARBOR -- A judge ordered a jailed Oak Harbor baby-sitter accused of molesting at least 10 children held without bail after the man called at least one of the alleged victims from jail.

The man, 21, was being held on $250,000 bail. An Island County judge Wednesday revoked the bail and ordered the man to remain behind bars until trial.

The baby-sitter is charged with 30 counts of child rape and molestation involving boys and girls, ages 3 to 12.

In an emergency hearing Wednesday, prosecutors said the man had spoken to one child from jail. The conversation was recorded.

The man also is accused of writing letters to three of the alleged victims and their parents. The letters were sent from the Island County Jail to the suspect's sister, who allegedly delivered letters to at least two families, prosecutors said.

The man was ordered Wednesday not to call anyone except his attorney. He also was ordered not to contact the alleged victims, their parents or the church pastors.

The defendant and some of the victims' families all attended the same church in Oak Harbor. There are no allegations that the sexual assaults happened at the church, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said.

The sexual assaults happened as early as June 2007, according to court documents. Police were alerted to the allegations after three children began talking about the "nasty things" the man was doing to them. One child told a parent and eventually 10 children disclosed that the man had touched them, the charging papers show.

The man told detectives he knew what he was doing to the children was wrong so he'd apologize after raping and molesting them, Banks wrote.

Detectives continue to investigate.

If convicted of all the charges, the man faces at least 20 years in prison and up to life behind bars, Banks said.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA