Victim told a friend, who went to a school counselor with the allegations
BATTLE GROUND — A Battle Ground plumber is facing charges of sex crimes involving two teenage victims who were known to him, according to probable cause documents filed in Clark County Superior Court.
Timothy Rowe, 38, was arraigned on charges of molestation, commercial sex abuse of a minor, rape and one other charge, all involving the under-aged girls, one 15 and the other 12.
Rowe owns Rowe Plumbing and Drain, LLC, located in Battle Ground.
According to court records, the 15-year old confided in a friend about the abuse, saying it had been going on for several years. That friend then went to a school counselor, who contacted Child Protective Services.
Under Washington law, school employees who suspect child abuse may be occurring are required to report it to authorities.
During an interview with CPS, the teen claimed Rowe had started sexually abusing her when she was “between 9 and 11 years old,” and that it had happened “once every month or two for five years.”
Following interviews with the victims, Rowe was booked into the Clark County Jail on Oct. 22 and held on $250,000 bail, which he posted the following day. He was arraigned today, Fri., Nov. 1.
