An Onalaska man accused of sexual misconduct with an 18-year-old girl he hired to help with yard work in the summer of 2022 pleaded not guilty to a felony indecent liberties charge in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday.
The case was initially filed in Lewis County District Court as a misdemeanor, but was elevated to a felony indecent liberties charge on Jan. 24, 2023, according to court documents.
The defendant, Trevor R. Sanchez, 67, was then issued a summons notice ahead of a Feb. 14 preliminary hearing, which he was present for.
Sanchez is accused of grabbing the victim by the wrist and forcibly placing her hand on his genitals, according to court documents. When the victim told him she was struggling with a cold, he allegedly “said he was going to feel her lungs in regard to her cold” and “stuck his hand down her shirt and inside her bra between her breasts” before driving her home, according to court documents.
The incident reportedly occurred on Aug. 29, 2022.
Sanchez reportedly hired the victim to help him with yard work and housework in July 2022 after she responded to his Facebook ad “asking for teenagers to come and do yard work on his property,” according to court documents.
He allegedly exposed himself to her several times before the misconduct “escalated” on Aug. 29.
Sanchez adamantly denied the allegations when he was questioned by law enforcement, according to court documents.
While Deputy Prosecutor Karin Phomma asked for Sanchez to be arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on $20,000 bail out of concern for community safety, Judge James Lawler granted defense attorney Shane O’Rourke’s request for unsecured bail.
Lawler cited Sanchez’s response to the court summons and the prosecutor’s decision to not issue an arrest warrant when the case was elevated out of district court as reasons for granting unsecured bail.
On unsecured bail, Sanchez can remain out of custody for the duration of his court case so long as he appears in court for mandatory hearings and follows his conditions of release, which include no contact with the alleged victim or with minor children.
Sanchez’ request to maintain contact with his young grandchildren was denied.
The trial is currently scheduled to begin May 8.
