PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles-area businessman who turned 82 Saturday will be arraigned July 30 on child sexual assault charges.
Certified Public Accountant William Walter Lattin was charged Friday in Clallam County Superior Court with two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of first-degree child rape for incidents that allegedly occurred July 7 and July 9.
The charges are Class A felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.
Lattin, who does not have a criminal history, was arrested Tuesday evening, booked into the county jail and released Wednesday on his own recognizance.
A girl younger than 12 had told family members Lattin touched her sexually three times while she was at Lattin’s home east of Port Angeles.
Before his arrest, Lattin was confronted by the girl’s father.
“William said he was drunk and doesn’t remember, but she always comes at me and wants to wrestle,” according to the probable cause statement.
“William told [the father] he drank 3 bottles of wine, [the girl] is always playing with him and he doesn’t remember anything.”
The night of one of the alleged incidents, a family member said the girl was upset and was asked what happened.
“[The girl] said she doesn’t like it when people drink alcohol because it changes them,” according to the statement.
The girl said she told Lattin to stop one of the assaults “probably five times.”
Lattin was released on condition that he not drink alcohol, not leave the state of Washington, and not have contact with the alleged victim or minors younger than 16.
He has a business in Nevada, his lawyer, John Hayden of Clallam Public Defender, said Wednesday at Lattin’s first court appearance.
Lattin told Judge Simon Barnhart that he moved 12 or 13 years ago from Las Vegas to Clallam County and still prepares tax returns.
“I’m 82 years old,” Lattin said.
“I’ve got to do something to keep busy.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
