Enumclaw local charged with child molestation in Lewis County

An Enumclaw local has been charged with two counts of molesting a Lewis County child.

Kenneth Ray Lewis, 58, was charged in the Lewis County Superior Court on July 1, 2020.

The allegations of first-degree molestation first began in 2013, when the grandmother of the child — then 12 years old — found and read her diary, which contained entries about Bishop.

When interviewed by law enforcement, the child described at least three occasions when Bishop touched her inappropriately while he was dating the child's mother, from being kissed on the lips, "dry humping", and other non-penetrative sexual contact.

However, the child "refused to disclose details and the investigation was suspended," the affidavit reads — that is, until a detective interviewed three other potential young victims of Bishop's in 2019, prompting the case to be re-opened. According to the prosecuting attorney, these other alleged victims have no connection to the child involved in this case.

Bishop "denied any inappropriate touching," the affidavit reads, but "admitted there may have been a time when [the child] was straddling him, playing on the floor."

At this time, it's unclear if the child — now a legal adult — is aiding officers in the investigation.

According to The Daily Chronicle, which first reported the story, Bishop was scheduled to be arraigned today, Aug. 6.

The paper also reported the deputy prosecutor assigned to the case requested unsecured bail for Bishop, "meaning he would remain out of custody at no cost, due to the dated allegations and the fact that he showed up for his court hearing," although she also requested a protection order for the child.

Bishop was contacted for comment, but did not reply by print deadline.