PORT ANGELES — Forks Police Officer Erik A. Hanson, who was arrested Thursday on investigation of second-degree rape — a felony — has been charged in Clallam County Superior Court with two counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes — a misdemeanor.
Hanson, 33, was arrested Thursday, with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department saying the alleged actions happened while he was off duty.
He was charged Tuesday.
“We’re going to charge what we can prove,” Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly said Wednesday.
“If further evidence comes forward that would warrant a greater or lesser charge, that’s what we’ll do.”
Communication with 12-year-old
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall filed the misdemeanor counts for communication Hanson allegedly had with a 12-year-old girl between June and October of last year.
Hanson waived his right to a speedy arraignment so he could return to Iraq for duty with the Army National Guard.
The Forks man will be arraigned in Clallam County Superior Court on Aug. 28.
Forks Mayor Nedra Reed said that no personnel action has been taken.
“As far as the city is concerned, Officer Hanson is still on active duty with the military,” Reed said.
“Any personnel action will be deferred to such time as he has his day in court.”
Hanson posted $5,000 bail on Friday.
The court on Tuesday modified Hanson’s conditions of release, lifting curfew and travel restrictions, and imposed a one-year sexual assault protection order.
New information filed in the case includes a detective’s interview with the 12-year-old girl and e-mail correspondence she had with Hanson.
Court documents
According to court documents:
A three-month investigation by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Bureau uncovered phone records and e-mail exchanges between Hanson and the girl.
Hanson was the arresting officer in a case in which the girl, who is unidentified because of her age and the nature of the charge, was sexually assaulted two years ago.
Casey Shoop, 21, was charged with first degree child rape, first degree kidnapping and second-degree assault. He was booked January 2008, and remains in custody at the Clallam County jail on $100,000 bail.
Hanson was initially asked to patrol the girl’s neighborhood because she suffered from anxiety
The girl told investigators that Hanson became less professional, and that her friends and family became suspicious. She said she already had a bad experience — and now a police officer was talking the same way.
She told a sheriff’s investigator that Hanson hugged her around the waist and kissed her repeatedly when he was off duty and after he had returned from military training in Yakima.
According to phone records in the case file, the victim initiated seven out of 10 calls totaling 217 minutes between June 26, 2008 and July 6, 2008.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
