Ex-Tacoma cop gets 19 years for child rape

Ex-Tacoma cop gets 19 years for child rape

Lee William Giles is seen in Pierce County Superior court on January 4, 2008.

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Story Published: Jan 4, 2008 at 5:39 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2008 at 10:20 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff & News Services

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TACOMA -- A retired police officer, who once toured grade schools with a talking motorcycle, was sentenced Thursday to more than 19 years in prison for child rape and other offenses involving young relatives.

Lee William Giles Jr., 62, and his girlfriend, Maureen Elizabeth Wear, 47, pleaded guilty in November to first-degree child rape, second-degree child rape, first-degree child molestation and third-degree assault of a child.

Giles, who frequently visited schools and appeared on television and radio during a 30-year police career that ended in 2000, was arrested in August 2006 after a young relative of Wear told authorities the officer had raped and molested him for years.

Detectives also wrote in court documents that they found videotapes showing Giles and Wear raping and molesting the boy, described as developmentally disabled, and molesting two girls related to Giles. The three ranged in age from 3 to 16 at the time of the abuse, according to the court filings.

Deputy Prosecutor John M. Sheeran said he agreed to the plea deal partly to spare the victims from having to testify in court.

"There would have been a lot of graphic evidence introduced had the case gone to trial," Sheeran said. "The victims' families are supportive of this resolution."

In court on Friday, a boy Giles had molested asked his attorney to read his statement.

"I also want to talk about the life sentence, the life sentence that I have. They'll get a certain number of years. I will get a lifetime of trials and tribulations," the victim said in his staement.

The boy's father also asked the attorney to read a statement on his behalf.

"He (my son) dreams regularly that the defendants get out of jail and his isn't safe, or that they are hurting other children. He sleeps with a light on in his room," the father's statement read.

As an officer, Giles appeared with Harvey, the talking motorcycle, in a grade school program designed to make police less scary and was involved in the TV program "Behind the Shield." After retiring he became host of "Crime Time" on KLAY-AM radio.

There was no record of accusations of sexual misconduct by Giles while he was on the police force, officials said.

Sentencing for Wear was postponed.

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