A child rape suspect arrested during a tactical operation by Tenino police and the Washington State Patrol last week is out of custody after posting bail, according to the Tenino Police Department.
Law enforcement personnel have not released the suspect’s name.
“Although the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested bail be set at $250,000, a Thurston County Superior Court judge set bail at only $10,000,” the Tenino Police Department stated Monday, Aug. 28, in a news release. “The man was released from custody soon after his bail was posted.”
The suspect faces charges “for multiple sex crimes including rape of a child first degree” for allegedly raping his ex-wife’s juvenile daughter for several years, starting when she was 9 years old and continuing to when she was 14 years old, according to the news release.
The victim’s mother reported the sexual assault to the Tenino Police Department on July 27. The suspect was arrested on Aug. 23 after “a thorough investigation,” according to a news release.
The severity of the allegations, the defendant’s criminal history, failure to appear history, financial status and likelihood to reoffend are factors judges in Washington state consider when setting bail amounts.
Standard release conditions for defendants facing felony charges in Washington state include provisions preventing the defendant from having any contact with witnesses. In this case, that includes the victim and the victim’s mother.
For cases involving child sexual assault, it is common practice for judges to set additional release conditions prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with minors or going anywhere minors frequently congregate, such as schools or playgrounds.
The Chronicle was unable to confirm whether those conditions have been set in this case.
