A 45-year-old Portland man suspected of raping a Vancouver girl he met online made a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Thursday.
Sean William Clark faces an allegation of third-degree child rape. He is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a vehicle parked in the 9700 block of Northeast 76th Street, in the Sunnyside neighborhood.
Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Maxfield said he came across the parked vehicle shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday. He observed the vehicle’s windows were foggy, and said he could see movement inside. Maxfield said he assumed the occupants were having sex, so he announced himself and gave them about 20 seconds to get dressed, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
When he approached the vehicle, he said he saw a male and female in the backseat. The female was crouched down on the floor behind the passenger seat. Her face was down so he could not assess her age at that point, he said. He then asked the male to step out of the vehicle, according to court documents.
Maxfield said he was expecting the occupants to be teenagers and was surprised when the male appeared to be much older. The man said he was 38. Maxfield then asked the man why he wasn’t in a hotel, and he allegedly said, “I’m sorry, but I’m married.” The man then produced an Oregon driver’s license that identified him as Clark, court records said.
Maxfield then asked the female to look up at him so he could question her. He said he was “shocked” to see that she looked to be about 12 years old. She told him she was 14. Clark allegedly told Maxfield that the girl told him she was 18. Maxfield replied by saying, “Anyone can see she’s not 18,” according to the affidavit.
The girl said she met Clark on Whisper.com and that he came and picked her up down the street from her house, court records said.
Clark was subsequently arrested.
The case is also being investigated by detectives with the Children’s Justice Center, sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Fred Neiman said.
On Thursday, Judge David Gregerson told Clark it did not appear he qualified for a court-appointed attorney, and he would need to hire his own.
Clark said he has no criminal history. Gregerson ordered Clark not have any contact with the alleged victim.
His bail was set at $30,000, and he is scheduled to be arraigned May 21.
