Suspect arraigned on charges
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — A local man was arraigned July 25 on multiple child-sex charges.
Brigham W. Van Wormer, 39, is charged with second-degree rape of a child, first- and second-degree child molestation, first-degree rape and second-degree assault of two minors, according to county court documents.
He was arrested by patrol officers in the 12600 block of West 12th Avenue on July 12, and is now being charged with 16 different counts of criminal activity, including multiple counts of child rape and molestation of two minors, Spokane County Superior Court documents said.
Van Wormer bonded out of Spokane County Jail for $10,000 on July 12 under several conditions mandated by the court, including that he not have any contact with minors and that he not leave the county.
A probable cause statement shows Van Wormer had allegedly been sexually abusing her since early 2018, and persisted through April of 2023.
The alleged victim reported the contact to a school counselor and her mother, who in turn reported her statements to law enforcement in May of 2023, documents said.
The victim was forensically interviewed by Partners With Families in April, and reiterated the circumstances of her alleged abuse, court documents said.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge John Cooney presided over arraignment, but Judge Timothy Fennessy has been assigned the case.
Spokane County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dallas Montano has filed a motion for disqualification of Fennessy in the subsequent hearings, scheduled for September and October.
In his motion, Montano said he does not believe Fennessy can render a fair and impartial trial decision.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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