A Tacoma man accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 12 during a camping trip to East Lewis County over Labor Day is now facing one count of first-degree child molestation in Lewis County Superior Court.
The charge is a class A felony punishable by up to life in prison.
The Tacoma Police Department reportedly began investigating the alleged sexual abuse after the defendant, Thomas Van Brocklin, 64, allegedly confessed to his wife that he had “inappropriately touched” the victim on two occassions, according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
Tacoma detectives contacted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 1 after they learned one of the alleged sexual assaults took place in Lewis County.
During a forensic interview conducted on Sept. 27, the victim reported that the sexual assault took place during a camping trip in the Glenoma and Randle area over Labor Day weekend. Van Brocklin allegedly told the victim “I want you so bad but you’re not ready” and “I want you so bad, but I will keep trying” before molesting her and telling her “not to tell anybody,” according to charging documents.
Van Brocklin allegedly told his wife and investigators that “he believed his alcohol consumption clouded his judgment,” according to charging documents.
He was issued a summons notice for a Nov. 7 preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
