News

Man accused of molesting 11-year-old girl pleads not guilty

 A convicted sex offender who is accused of molesting an 11-year-old girl at a library in Enumclaw pleaded not guilty Thursday.

KENT, Wash. — Prosecutors said Travis Lear, 25, is accused of sexually assaulting a girl at the Enumclaw Library in January.

A first-degree child molestation charge was filed against Lear.

According to charging documents, the assault happened when the victim was alone in a car eating.

Lear allegedly went up to the car and ordered the girl to go to the bathroom with him or he would kill her.

Documents said Lear locked the only door and molested the girl.

Also, Lear allegedly told the girl he didn’t like what he was doing, but he had urges.

According to prosecutors, Lear then let the victim go, and threatened to kill her again if she told anyone.

The girl told her father immediately and they allegedly confronted Lear, but he denied the assault and left.

The officer who took the victim’s statement had recognized Lear, who was a convicted sex offender.

When Lear went to the police department for a corrections meeting, he was later identified by the victim.

At the time of his arrest, KIRO 7 ran a background check and discovered Lear was convicted for raping a 14-year-old and a developmentally disabled woman in her 30s.

In court Wednesday, Lear’s defense also denied the charges.

Prosecutors are asking for a special circumstance in which Lear could face a minimum sentence of 25 years or life in prison.

Lear was also ordered to stay away from minors.

He is being held on $1 million bail and will be in court again Feb. 28.

0