PORT ANGELES — A 47-year-old Sequim man has been charged with five counts of first-degree child molestation.
Gerald “Jay” Brownfield pleaded not guilty to the Class A felony counts Friday.
A one-week trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, 2018, in Clallam County Superior Court.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleged that Brownfield had sexual contact with a girl who was younger than 12 between May 2014 and last June.
The girl’s grandmother reported the alleged crimes to authorities Aug. 7, court papers said.
In an Aug. 11 forensic interview, the girl said Brownfield had done “bad ‘sexual’ things to her” beginning in the summer of 2014 when she was 8, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
Brownfield was arrested at his Taylor Cutoff Road residence on Sept. 1.
He posted $75,000 bail bond on Sept. 5.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Erik Rohrer signed a post-arraignment sexual assault no-contact order preventing Brownfield from having contact with the alleged victim.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy had requested a $150,000 bail for Brownfield.
Brownfield signed a speedy trial waiver at arraignment. A status hearing is set for Dec. 7.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.