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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Two Child-Sex Ring Suits Consolidated Numerous Government Entities Targeted For Undisclosed Damages

Nicholas K. Geranios Associated

Two civil lawsuits arising from the Wenatchee child-sex ring cases will be consolidated into one case that will be heard in King County, a judge ruled Friday.

Pastor Robert “Roby” Roberson, his wife and several others who were prosecuted in the sensational sex abuse cases filed two lawsuits seeking undisclosed damages from numerous government entities.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue said the lawsuits should be combined and tried one time.

“These two matters are joined at the hip in facts and law,” Donohue said. “If we consolidate, we will be saving some witnesses multiple trips to Seattle. Their testimony will be presented once and for all.”

Donohue tried to set a trial date for next November, but numerous lawyers objected, saying they were too busy then. The case will likely not be heard until next December or 1998.

Donohue also dismissed from the lawsuits allegations that Wenatchee Police Chief Ken Badgley and Detective Robert Perez - the chief investigator in the Chelan County cases - conducted a negligent criminal investigation. However, both remained defendants in the civil suits.

Donohue did not rule in a dispute involving future press statements.

Attorney Patrick McMahon, who represents the city of Wenatchee, Badgley and Perez, asked Donohue to consider imposing some sort of gag order to prevent the parties from speaking to the news media.

“The closer we get to the trial, the media thing will heat up again,” McMahon said, adding he was worried that would make it difficult to find an impartial jury.

Robert Van Siclen, lawyer for Roberson, said his client is called regularly by reporters seeking comments. Roberson has also been asked to talk to the state Legislature about the conduct of the investigation.

“Roberson feels strongly that something bad happened there,” Van Siclen said of the investigation. “He feels people are wrongly incarcerated.

“The only way to help people is to bring it out,” Van Siclen said. “He will not solicit publicity, but he has the right to answer questions honestly.”

“Publicity comes towards him like a heat-seeking missile,” McMahon retorted.

Roberson and several others, who were either acquitted or had child abuse charges reduced or dismissed, sued in Chelan County. He also filed suit in Douglas County, along with his wife Connie and five other plaintiffs.

The cases name the state Department of Social and Health Services, the individual counties, their jails and Wenatchee.

Individuals named include Perez, Badgley, Douglas County Sheriff Dan LaRoche and two detectives, five Child Protective Services workers and two therapists.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nicholas K. Geranios Associated Press