PORT ANGELES — A Sequim man accused of having sexual contact with a young girl has pleaded guilty to first-degree child molestation.
Gerald “Jay” Brownfield, 49, will be sentenced June 6 in Clallam County Superior Court.
Brownfield was originally charged with five counts of first-degree child molestation and pleaded guilty to one count of the Class A felony Thursday.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleged that Brownfield had sexual contact with a girl who was between 8 and 11 from May 2014 to June 2017.
Detective Sgt. Amy Bundy said the victim disclosed the alleged crimes to her grandmother, her father’s fiance and a friend about six months after telling her mother that Brownfield had been touching her inappropriately.
The girl’s grandmother reported the allegations to authorities in August 2017, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
Brownfield denied ever touching the victim when confronted by the girl’s mother, Bundy said.
“[The victim] provided detail in her child forensic interview about four specific incidents of Gerald Jay Brownfield knowingly causing her to have sexual contact with him before her 12th birthday,” Bundy wrote in her report.
Brownfield posted a $75,000 bail bond on the day that he was charged in September 2017. He was re-booked into the Clallam County jail after pleading guilty Thursday.
Brownfield is facing a standard sentencing range of 51 months to 68 months in prison, according to the statement of defendant on plea of guilty.
The parties have recommended a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative for Brownfield, according to the minutes of Thursday’ hearing. If the court finds that Brownfield is eligible for the sentencing alternative, it may order an examination to determine whether Brownfield is amenable to treatment, according to the statute.
The maximum sentence for first-degree child molestation is life in prison and a $50,000 fine.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
