The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information related to an ongoing child molestation case in which the suspect is involved with multiple local church youth and civic groups, and other youth activities.
Robert Wilson Rector, 28, of Vancouver was formally charged in June in Clark County Superior Court with three counts of third-degree child molestation, one count of attempted third-degree child molestation and one count of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation.
The sheriff’s office said Rector has been involved with multiple youth activity groups since 2009, and his participation included out-of-state travel with the organizations.
Investigators say they believe there may be additional victims or witnesses with information relevant to the case.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, three males described incidents where Rector touched them sexually. All three said the abuse occurred when they were about 15 or younger.
Court records say Rector, a leader in a church youth group, would sometimes host gatherings at his home. The three victims recalled instances where group members would stay overnight at Rector’s house — which wasn’t an uncommon occurrence, they said — then wake to find Rector sexually abusing them. One of the victims said Rector also snapped photos of him while he slept.
When questioned about the youngest victim’s allegations, Rector affirmed he did host a party at his home for members of his Bible study group, which included some high school students.
Rector said he sat down next to the teen to wake him that morning, and rubbed his back. He said he “didn’t do anything on purpose,” according to court records, but said he didn’t remember much else from that morning.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information relevant to the criminal case or other potential crimes involving Rector to contact sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Barsness at 360-397-2020 or todd.barsness@clark.wa.gov.
