Man charged with child rape, exploitation

Black Diamond police arrested the man, 38, on Dec. 7, and he was charged in the King County Superior Court on Dec. 12.

Editor’s note: The names of the people involved have been withheld to protect the identity of the minors.

Original 12/19 story: A Black Diamond man has been arrested and charged with rape and the sexual exploitation of children.

Black Diamond police arrested the man, 38, on Dec. 7, and he was charged in the King County Superior Court on Dec. 12.

The victim, 12, allegedly told a classmate at school she was being sexually assaulted by a family member and was feeling suicidal.

When officers arrived, she told them she has been sexually assaulted by her stepfather since she was 8 years old up until last October.

Her stepfather would also force her to have sex with her older male relative, who is also a minor, while the stepfather took photos and video.

A male relative of the girl, who is also unidentified, told police after he was taken into protective custody that he had been having sex with his sister, “for a long time.”

Bail for the suspect has been set at $150,000.

He’s being charged with two counts of child rape in the first and second degree, Class A felonies, which can each lead to a life sentence, a fine of $50,000, or both.

He’s also being charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, Class B felonies, which can each lead to a maximum prison term of 10 years, a fine of $20,000, or both.

The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 27.