PORT ANGELES — A Forks man has pleaded not guilty to first-degree child molestation.
Jonathan N. Wasankari, 46, entered the plea at his arraignment Friday in Clallam County Superior Court.
He remained in the Clallam County jail Saturday on $50,000 bail.
A status hearing was set for May 24 and a three-to-four-day trial set for June 10.
The alleged crime committed on April 3 involved a girl younger than 12.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy David Fletcher interviewed the girl at Healthy Families of Clallam County in Port Angeles, according to the probable cause statement.
She said Wasankari had touched her sexually while they were talking about bras alone at his Nelson Road house and that she was scared of him.
She said there was “similar touching” by Wasankari in the past but could not define a specific time, according to the probable cause report.
A teenager whom Wasankari said was present while he was with the girl told authorities he was not present when Wasankari and the girl were together, according to the report.
If Wasankari makes bail, he is not allowed to have contact with the girl or any minors under age 16.
First-degree child molestation is a Class A felony that occurs when a person has sexual contact with someone younger than 12 and is at least three years older than the victim.
