A Centralia man accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14 shortly before the start of the 2024-25 school year was arrested Monday on a felony sexual assault charge.
The victim reported the assault to Centralia Middle School staff, who then reported it to law enforcement, on Monday, Sept. 30, according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday.
When questioned by investigators, the suspect, a 36-year-old man, allegedly “would continually deny the allegations, but then say it was possible, and then provide an innocent explanation for the touching,” according to court documents.
The Chronicle is not identifying the suspect in order to protect the identity of the victim.
The man allegedly said he reported the incident to his priest “due to the thoughts he had at the time he touched (the victim),” according to court documents.
When informed about the allegations, the victim’s mother reportedly “became upset at what was being said, believing that she should have told her rather than law enforcement,” but reportedly said the victim “was trustworthy and there was no reason for her to make up the allegations.”
The man was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just after 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 30, according to jail records.
He was charged with one class B felony on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Bail is set at $25,000. Arraignment was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3.
The man’s conditions of release include a provision preventing him from having any contact with children or from going anywhere children are known to congregate, such as schools or parks, until his case is resolved.
A no-contact order protecting the victim is in place.
