Senator Wants Police Action Investigated

A state senator who’s running for governor called Wednesday for an investigatory grand jury to probe actions by police and prosecutors during investigations into alleged child sex rings here.

State Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, said she decided to organize Wednesday’s “town-hall meeting” after legislative leaders refused to hold hearings on the matter in Wenatchee.

She announced the meeting after Gov. Mike Lowry and House Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-Wenatchee, asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the allegations of civil rights violations.

“I’m here because I’m represent ing the people to make sure we get accountability in government,” said Roach, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and former chairwoman of the Senate Children and Family Services Committee.

Authorities say as many as 50 children were forced to have sex - sometimes alone, sometimes in groups - with family members and other adults participating in two loosely-organized sex rings in operation since 1988.

Twenty-eight adults have been charged since last fall.

Four of the cases have resulted in convictions and 10 defendants have pleaded guilty. One person was acquitted and charges against two others were dismissed. One person pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. Ten cases are pending.

But the cases are rife with controversy, and some of the accused and their supporters contend they are victims of a vendetta by local police and prosecutors.