Centralia Man Charged with Rape of a Child Previously Convicted Twice of Same Charge

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Authorities charged a Centralia man with three counts of first-degree rape of a child after police say they were contacted by an individual alleging numerous instances of inappropriate sexual contact.

During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, Judge Joely O’Rourke ordered the defendant, Daniel H. Auman, 39, be held on $250,000 bail.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday, Centralia police were first notified of the allegations in December. They interviewed a juvenile that alleged multiple instances of forced sexual contact with Auman over an extended period of time.

Police received an additional report regarding a medical examination of the alleged victim last week. Auman was arrested by Centralia police Monday evening.

According to court documents, he has two prior convictions of first-degree rape of a child dating back to the 1990s and “several convictions for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.”

Auman was registered with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office as a level 1 sex offender, meaning he was believed to be a low risk to reoffend, LCSO detective Jamey McGinty told The Chronicle.

McGinty added that state law does not allow law enforcement to notify the public about level 1 sex offenders as it does with level 2 or 3 offenders, unless the level 1 offender is a transient or has failed to register their address.

During Auman’s preliminary appearance in court Tuesday, O’Rourke imposed $250,000 bail in tune with a request from Deputy Prosecutor Joe Bassetti. Additionally, she imposed a sexual assault no contact order prohibiting he come in contact with the victim.

Auman has an arraignment hearing scheduled for May 23.