Arlington teen charged with multiple counts of rape
EVERETT, Wash. - An Arlington teen and former athlete is charged with repeatedly raping girls while pinning them down with holds he learned while on the wrestling team.
18-year-old James Spear was arrested on ten counts of rape and five counts of molestation. He was charged with four of those counts on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
But police said Spear admitted to sexually abusing three girls for years.
Spear was arrested last week after he allegedly told his girlfriend about the attacks, and she then told police.
Police said the victims' ages range in age from first grade to high school, and one of the girls said she was forced to have sex with Spear up to 60 times.
Chief criminal prosecutor Mark Roe said more charges could follow. "I wanted to file stuff I could make sure I had the paperwork to support and that's what I had at this point," he said.
Spear was an accomplished varsity wrestler who graduated from Arlington High School last year. Police say he used wrestling moves hold down his victims.
Snohomish County Deputy Rich Neibusch said the Sheriff's Office is now investigating whether Spear could be connected to other unsolved rape cases.
"Victims of, unfortunately rape, who have been held in a wrestling hold - a submission hold - while the rape was occurring," he said.
Spear is being help in the county jail on $2 million bail while police look for more victims in four counties where Spear traveled for wrestling matches.
"The investigation is on going. I anticipate more information - but whether that mean more victims or not, I can't say," Roe said.
Even if prosecutors do not file any more charges, Spear could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of the current charges.
18-year-old James Spear was arrested on ten counts of rape and five counts of molestation. He was charged with four of those counts on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
But police said Spear admitted to sexually abusing three girls for years.
Spear was arrested last week after he allegedly told his girlfriend about the attacks, and she then told police.
Police said the victims' ages range in age from first grade to high school, and one of the girls said she was forced to have sex with Spear up to 60 times.
Chief criminal prosecutor Mark Roe said more charges could follow. "I wanted to file stuff I could make sure I had the paperwork to support and that's what I had at this point," he said.
Spear was an accomplished varsity wrestler who graduated from Arlington High School last year. Police say he used wrestling moves hold down his victims.
Snohomish County Deputy Rich Neibusch said the Sheriff's Office is now investigating whether Spear could be connected to other unsolved rape cases.
"Victims of, unfortunately rape, who have been held in a wrestling hold - a submission hold - while the rape was occurring," he said.
Spear is being help in the county jail on $2 million bail while police look for more victims in four counties where Spear traveled for wrestling matches.
"The investigation is on going. I anticipate more information - but whether that mean more victims or not, I can't say," Roe said.
Even if prosecutors do not file any more charges, Spear could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted of the current charges.
