She kept the alleged rapes secret for 10 years. Then she spoke up

Jan. 20--A Custer man was arrested Wednesday night on charges of child rape and voyeurism stemming from alleged sexual assaults of a former girlfriend's young daughter about a decade ago.

Rene Phillip Dallas, 37, was booked Wednesday night on charges of first-degree child rape and voyeurism. He remained in custody Friday, according to Whatcom County Jail records.

"It's an old event, 10 years, that is just now being reported," said Whatcom County Undersheriff Jeff Parks. "He sexually abused the daughter of his then-girlfriend and the relationship was terminated when she caught him peeping on her daughter in the shower. Victim did not report the actual sex abuse until now."

Parks said the alleged rapes came to light during a mental-health counseling session and the counselor encouraged the woman to notify authorities.

"Based on that, we went and arrested him on the probable cause," Parks said.

The woman is now 21 years old.

Court records show that in March 2010, Dallas pleaded guilty to harassment, a gross misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year in jail with all but 30 days suspended.

In addition, temporary protection orders were issued against him at the time, court records show.

Robert Mittendorf: 360-756-2805, @BhamMitty

___

(c)2018 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) at www.bellinghamherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.