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Story Published: Oct 14, 2008 at 12:16 PM PDT
Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 3:52 AM PDT
Robert Darrell Strickland, 34, was arrested after a month-long investigation for multiple counts of investigation of child rape and child molestation.
Police spokeswoman Chris Fitzgerald said neither teen lived at the privately-owned group home. One victim lives in the neighborhood, and Fitzgerald said Strickland met the other boy through his parents at narcotics anonymous meetings.
Strickland lives at and manages the Lighthouse Community Home for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts at 1321 Crescent Avenue where the rapes allegedly took place.
When police searched the home at 7 a.m. Monday morning, officers found a 17-year-old boy hiding in a closet, Fitzgerald said. Investigators say Strickland had sexual relationships with two 17-year-old boys, but because they were at the age of consent, the criminal case is focusing on the alleged rapes of the 15-year-old boys.
The investigation began in September after the parents of the younger boys contacted police and reported the alleged abuse.
Fitzgerald said Strickland gained the trust of his victims, who were allegedly dealing with problems related to drug and alcohol, and lured them to his home where he molested them.
"Won their confidence purporting to be a friend and a support for them, and offering them a safe place where they could go and basically hang out," he said.
Lester Cates, who has taken over as the acting manager of the home, said he has seen Strickland with young boys around the house.
"Oh yeah. I saw them," he said.
When asked what he thought Strickland's relationship to the boys was, Cates said, "That he was molesting them. It wasn't right."
Cates said several residents of their home have called police about their suspicions of Strickland, but by then the boys had already told their parents who went to police.
Strickland is also under investigation for allegedly intimidating the residents at the adult home he operated. He allegedly stole food stamps from the residents and threatened to evict them if they reported him, Fitzgerald said.
"The problem is when you've got one person doing bad things to people in an environment that's meant to do so much good for others. It makes it really hard," Cates said.
Strickland is being held in the Lewis County Jail on $25,000 bail.
The Lighthouse Community Home will remain open as investigators believe Strickland acted alone.