Former Cheney resident pleads guilty to child molestation

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

Former Cheney resident Edward P. Herres pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree child molestation in Spokane Superior Court on July 1 and was sentenced Aug. 3 by Judge Harold D. Clarke III to 33 days in jail, with credit given for the 33 days already served. Clark suspended the initial 68 months to life sentence pursuant to specifications under the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative (SSOSA) Act.

Herres was placed in community custody of the Department of Corrections for life, and was ordered to enter a sex offender treatment program under SSOSA for a period of at least five years. He had 30 days to comply.

Cheney police arrested Herres Dec. 12, 2010 after investigating allegations he had sexually molested a then 2-year-old girl while babysitting for a relative Nov. 26. Herres has since left the Cheney area, living with family in Pomeroy, Wash.

Judge Clarke also ordered Herres to have no more contact with the victim and is prohibited from coming within 500 feet of any home/residence, workplace, school or other location where the victim may be. As part of his community custody placement agreement, Herres is not to “have contact with minors including your biological children without a chaperone who knows of your sexual conviction and then only with the permission of the therapist and CCO (community corrections officer).”

Herres has no previous felony convictions. In imposing the sentence, Judge Clarke noted that some individuals convicted of sex offenses have benefited from the treatment program.

“I don't believe that group is all that large that have successfully changed from that program,” he added. “I suppose we can say it's all up to Mr. Herres.”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].