A Centralia man accused of molesting a 6-year-old girl earlier this year was arrested on Thursday.
The defendant, Jackson L. McCarter, 25, has since been charged with one count of first-degree child molestation.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The alleged victim initially reported the abuse to a school staff member, who immediately reported it to law enforcement, on May 24, 2022. But investigators were unable to obtain a specific timeframe for the alleged incident.
The victim repeated “many of the same details” about the alleged abuse during multiple forensic interviews throughout the investigation, according to documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
The alleged victim’s caregivers reported they noticed a change in the victim’s behavior around the time the defendant gained access to the victim, but said they were unaware of any sexual abuse before law enforcement told them of the allegations against McCarter, according to court documents.
On Nov. 3, McCarter’s employer contacted law enforcement to report McCarter was at work and that he had been suspended based on the current allegations.
He was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just before 11:55 a.m.
While McCarter had no criminal history, Judge Joely Yeager granted Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson’s request for $100,000 bail on Friday due to the seriousness of the alleged offense.
“This is a very significant threat to community safety. These are very serious allegations against a young child, although they are allegations at this point,” she said during McCarter’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
Yeager also granted Jackson’s request for a no-contact order protecting the alleged victim.
McCarter’s next court appearance is an arraignment hearing scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10.
