The 40-year-old man arrested Friday, May 2, and held in the Lewis County Jail on $1 million bail and 72-hour hold was charged Wednesday with one count of first-degree rape of a child.
The charge is a class A felony punishable by up to life in prison.
Terry Joe Ayres Jr., of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree rape of a child at approximately 6:44 p.m. on Friday, May 2, according to jail records.
In a declaration of probable cause for a 72-hour investigative hold that was filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office details an investigation conducted by the Centralia Police Department into a sexual assault of a child that was reported on Dec. 16, 2024.
According to the affidavit, Child Protective Services forwarded a report to the Centralia Police Department indicating that a child under the age of 14 living in Centralia had reported being sexually assaulted by the man for the last three years.
The child participated in a Youth Advocacy Center interview on March 17, where she reportedly alleged that the man had sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.
Judge Paul Strophy approved the prosecution’s request for a 72-hour investigative hold on Monday, May 5, meaning the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office had until Thursday, May 8, to file charges against the man before he must be released from the Lewis County Jail.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office charged Ayres on Wednesday, May 7.
Ayres’ bail was set at $1 million over the weekend, which Strophy ruled Monday to maintain until either charges are filed or the investigative hold expires.
Judge Joely Yeager ruled Wednesday to maintain Ayres’ bail at $1 million.
“It’s appropriate at $1 million,” Yeager said Wednesday, noting that while Ayres has no similar offenses on his record — which she said is typical of these types of cases — he does have extensive criminal history to include multiple assault and bail jumping convictions, as well as one conviction on a strike offense.
With Ayres now being charged with a second strike offense, Yeager expressed concerns about Ayres being a community safety risk and a flight risk.
“Really, the significance here is the allegations themselves — these are allegations that are very serious,” Yeager said.
Ayres conditions of release include provisions prohibiting him from having any contact with minors or going anywhere minors are known to congregate, such as schools or playgrounds.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, May 15.
