by Sequim Gazette staff

A 41-year-old Sequim man is charged with molesting a 10-year-old girl and taking an explicit cell phone photo of her.

Dale Lee Wilkinson was arrested Dec. 22 on suspicion of child molestation and possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct after the alleged victim told a friend, who disclosed the sexual abuse to her mother and a school counselor.

In a probable cause report, Sequim police said the friend told them the disclosure was made during a sleepover. According to police, the friend said she was told Wilkinson touched the girl’s bare chest and took a photo of it with his cell phone, which resulted in a fight between him and his wife upon her discovery of the photo.

The 10-year-old girl and her mother were interviewed by police two days later.

The mother, who will not be identified by the Gazette to protect the identity of the victim, told police there was never an illicit picture.

The girl told police Wilkinson touched her breasts on two separate occasions after giving her a back rub, police said.

When questioned, Wilkinson initially denied taking a picture but admitted to touching the girl unintentionally. Later, he admitted there was a photograph of the girl’s exposed chest and he took it on purpose after touching her inappropriately, police said.

An examination of the phone by police did not reveal any explicit photographs.

Wilkinson was charged with first-degree child molestation, a Class A felony, and possessing depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the second degree, a Class C felony, on Dec. 28 in Clallam County Superior Court. His arraignment is set for Jan. 6.

Judge Ken Williams ordered Wilkinson have no contact with the 10-year-old girl and allowed him to be released from jail on his own recognizance.