A Chehalis man has been arrested on eight sexual misconduct charges for allegedly abusing two young children between December 2014 and June 2022.
The first victim reported he was molested repeatedly between the ages of 5 and 12. The second victim reported the abuse began in January 2022, when he was 6 years old, and continued for six months before it was reported to the Chehalis Police Department in June.
The case was reported after the older victim learned the younger victim was also being abused and told an adult, according to court documents.
When confronted by law enforcement, the defendant, Robert Lee Saline, 61, reportedly “made several admissions” directly related to the victims’ allegations but denied some of the other allegations, according to court documents.
Saline reportedly indicated that the victims were “interested in his penis” and had initiated some of the alleged sexual misconduct. Saline reportedly said “he had to quit, the Lord’s in his heart, he ‘doesn’t want to do this sh-t,’” according to court documents.
When law enforcement asked Saline whether one of the victims was lying about the allegations, Saline reportedly said “(the victim) was not lying” and indicated “it was not (the victim's) fault.”
Saline was arrested by the Chehalis Police Department on Aug. 31 and was booked into the Lewis County Jail.
He has since been charged with eight felony sexual misconduct charges, four of which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
While Saline has no prior criminal history, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson requested Thursday that Saline be held on $250,000 bail “because of the nature of the allegations and the children involved.”
Jackson also asked Judge J. Andrew Toynbee to issue protection orders in favor of the alleged victims, expressing concerns regarding “the possibility of coercion against the victims” should Saline be released and allowed to contact them.
Toynbee agreed with Jackson’s concerns, setting Saline’s bail at $250,000 and issued protection orders for both alleged victims on Thursday.
Saline’s next scheduled court appearance is an arraignment hearing scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8.
