Judges Targeted In Sex Ring Case

Two Chelan County judges acted unprofessionally while overseeing cases involving Wenatchee’s so-called child sex rings, a citizens’ group alleges in a complaint filed with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The group, Concerned Citizens for Legal Accountability, has been among the staunchest supporters of the 28 people accused of participating in what police described as two loosely organized sex rings in operation since 1988 in the Wenatchee area.

The citizens’ group alleges that Superior Court Judge Carol Wardell was influenced by her anger at its members when she sentenced Manuel Rodriguez to five years and eight months in prison, the maximum allowed for his conviction on one count of first-degree child molestation.

The citizens’ group also contends Judge T.W. “Chip” Small was biased and unprofessional during the trial of unordained pastor Robert “Roby” Roberson and his wife, Connie, who were acquitted of multiple charges of child molestation and rape.