Church deacon gets prison for sexually assaulting girls


Associated Press
September 13, 2018

https://www.apnews.com/3f3141721c6d49bda2cda227734e3b1c

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — A Richland man who served as a church deacon for 30 years is going to prison for sexually assaulting two girls.

The Tri-City Herald reports 75-year-old Robert DaValle was sentenced in Benton County Superior Court to a minimum term of more than five years.

He could be behind bars for the rest of his life because it will be up to a state board to decide when he’s ready for release after serving the minimum term.

DaValle pleaded guilty in May to two counts of child molestation. He apologized Tuesday to the victims and their families.

Court documents say one of the girls told her youth group leader in June 2017 that she had been inappropriately touched when she was younger.

Documents say the other girl made a similar disclosure to her parents.

Documents say he didn’t meet the victims through his work at Christ the King church.

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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com