On Wednesday, May 17, a Centralia man went into the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, accompanied by an attorney, to provide an unsolicited statement to law enforcement.
In that statement, the man, Patrick L. Mahoney, 69, allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 12 within the last year.
A call to the child’s guardian made during the interview reportedly confirmed Mahoney’s confession, with the child’s guardian telling law enforcement the victim had recently spoken up about the abuse, according to court documents
He was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at 3:05 p.m. that same day, according to jail records.
On Thursday, May 18, Mahoney was charged in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of first-degree rape of a child and four counts of first-degree child molestation.
“This case is very unique in that Mr. Mahoney came into my office … and opted to self-report,. That’s something the court does not typically see,” Mahoney’s attorney said during Mahoney’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
While the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office asked Judge J. Andrew Toynbee to set Mahoney’s bail at $500,000, citing the severity of the allegations and a concern that he will reoffend, Toynbee granted a significantly lower bail of $25,000 due to the fact that Mahoney turned himself in.
Toynbee did grant the prosecutor’s office’s request for a no-contact order protecting the alleged victim.
Mahoney’s conditions of release, should be post bail, prohibit him from having contact with any children or from going places where children are known to congregate such as schools or playgrounds.
His arraignment hearing is scheduled for June 1.
