Prosecutors have charged a Centralia man with four counts of child molestation following an investigation by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
Thane D. West, 42, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
West is charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation, considered Class A felonies, and two counts of second-degree child molestation, considered Class B felonies.
Class A felonies are punishable by up to life in prison and $50,000 in fines. Class B felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
The Chronicle is limiting details of the investigation to protect the victim’s identity. West said Thursday he would look to retain private defense counsel.
During the hearing, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer requested a sexual assault protection order on behalf of the victim and $250,000 in bail.
“We are concerned that we see an ongoing pattern here that has been going for quite some time,” Meyer said.
He added the state was concerned for community safety and that the defendant would attempt to influence either the victim or witnesses if released.
Meyer said West had “limited criminal history.”
“The only thing we found was a charge from a long time ago out of Alaska,” Meyer said.
Rachael Tiller, West’s attorney for the day, requested no more than $25,000 in bail, citing West’s lack of criminal convictions. Tiller said a protection order “should allay any safety concern.”
Tiller said West reported being the “breadwinner of the family.”
Judge Joely Yeager granted Meyer’s request for $250,000 in bail, along with the protection order. West must also surrender any firearms or dangerous weapons within his possession.
“The allegations here are very concerning,” Yeager said. “There’s certainly allegations that would cause concern for community safety.”
Yeager said she didn’t “put a lot of weight” on West’s lack of criminal history.
“In most cases of these allegations, that is usually the case,” Yeager said. “So, again, I don’t put a lot of weight on that.”
According to a probable cause affidavit, a LCSO detective began investigating West after being notified of a possible sexual abuse case on Nov. 4.
The victim reportedly told the detective the abuse had occurred “countless” times since the victim was in the fourth grade.
West is scheduled for an arraignment on Nov. 12.
