CHEHALIS — Chehalis police arrested a Vancouver man on suspicion of first-degree child rape Tuesday afternoon for allegedly abusing a 3-year-old female relative several years ago.
The investigation against 31-year-old Joshua R. Wittler, formerly of Chehalis, began after Child Protective Services reported the alleged abuse to the Chehalis Police Department in early October, said Chehalis Police Sgt. Brian Hickey.
The child is now 8, he said. Wittler is a relative of the child, and was living with the child and other family members at the time the alleged sexual abuse took place.
Wittler was interviewed by police at the end of October, and he denied abusing the child, Hickey said. Police continued investigating the allegations of sexual abuse after the interview, and following further investigation, officers traveled to Vancouver to make the arrest this week.
