Police: Man molested girl at Enumclaw library
ENUMCLAW, Wash. -- A registered sex offender is accused of grabbing a girl and groping her in a public library bathroom.
Travis Lear, 25, reportedly said "he just couldn't help himself" when he allegedly attacked the 11-year-old child Wednesday at the Enumclaw Public Library.
The girl was waiting for her father in the car when Lear allegedly grabbed her and dragged her into the library. Police said he took the girl into a bathroom and locked the door. Inside, he told the girl he could not control his urges, investigators said, and as he groped her, threatened to kill her if she screamed.
After the incident, the man ran out the door, but was captured on surveillance cameras. Police recognized the man on the video footage, and tracked him to his mother's house.
"That's the first time I've known him to actually be forceful with anyone," said Lear's mother, Regina Vilca.
Lear pleaded guilty to child rape in 2008 for having sex with a 14-year-old victim.
"Devastate me, yes. It's to the point where, sad to say, I almost don't even choose to call him my son anymore," said Vilca.
Lear waived his right to appear in court on Thursday. A judge ordered him held on $1 million bail.
But his mother doesn't believe he should be released.
"If this is the kind of life he plans on leading, then I feel he should be taken out of the public eye," she said.
Vilca now worries about the harm done to the 11-year-old girl.
Even if charged and convicted, the prosecutor said the incident would not count as Lear's second strike, which would lead to an automatic life sentence.
Travis Lear, 25, reportedly said "he just couldn't help himself" when he allegedly attacked the 11-year-old child Wednesday at the Enumclaw Public Library.
The girl was waiting for her father in the car when Lear allegedly grabbed her and dragged her into the library. Police said he took the girl into a bathroom and locked the door. Inside, he told the girl he could not control his urges, investigators said, and as he groped her, threatened to kill her if she screamed.
After the incident, the man ran out the door, but was captured on surveillance cameras. Police recognized the man on the video footage, and tracked him to his mother's house.
"That's the first time I've known him to actually be forceful with anyone," said Lear's mother, Regina Vilca.
Lear pleaded guilty to child rape in 2008 for having sex with a 14-year-old victim.
"Devastate me, yes. It's to the point where, sad to say, I almost don't even choose to call him my son anymore," said Vilca.
Lear waived his right to appear in court on Thursday. A judge ordered him held on $1 million bail.
But his mother doesn't believe he should be released.
"If this is the kind of life he plans on leading, then I feel he should be taken out of the public eye," she said.
Vilca now worries about the harm done to the 11-year-old girl.
Even if charged and convicted, the prosecutor said the incident would not count as Lear's second strike, which would lead to an automatic life sentence.
Molested as an infant/ child. Left in foster care at age 7. On his own, pretty much, at age 15. No real support to succeed, even when he gave all to make his life a success. No help to resolve childhood loss, both of abuse and abandonment. What can we expect?
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 As a society, this is our fault. We have let him down and endangered ourselves.
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The two strikes policy was enacted for a VALID reason. Â I have no idea what the dynamics were of his first offense, and that does not matter in this case. Â For this SECOND OFFENSE:
(1) He stated that, "He cannot control his urges". Â THAT makes him dangerous, considering how he responds.
(2) This second offense is under VIOLENT circumstances. Â Â
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He had his second chance in life, he blew it, he did not learn a damn thing.
This does not appear to be a false claim by someone just to get a sex offender off the streets, we have a victim, we have witnesses. Â He scared the crap out of this young girl and even apparently said he would kill her.
HE NEEDS TO GO AWAY.
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I personally know a guy that committed a sex offense over a decade ago,and in his own words, "It really pi**es me off when I see a guy like that in the news, because people see it and think we are all like that".
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I hope the kid is okay and has no lasting scars from this incident. Â
Even if charged and convicted, the prosecutor said the incident would not count as Lear's second strike, which would lead to an automatic life sentence.
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Wha-a-a-a?
Call, write, email your elected state reps and state senators. Â Ask them to increase the penalties for these types of crimes. Â Â Until someone finds a cure for this, society, and especially are children, should not have to be put at risk. Â In order to have a civil society, society needs to believe that they are receiving justice. Â Keep in mind, his record reflects only those times that he was caught and convicted.
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If it is true that cameras have been removed from KCLS libraries, after allowing the pornography on the computers, it might be good to politely let your local librarians know how you feel, and write letters to KCLS, and the King County Council. Â Providing free access to this at libraries allows those who have stipulations to stay away from porn to continue to access it. Â The cameras would allow the police to easily see if sex offenders are violating the terms of their release. Â
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As a supporter of the public libraries, it is distressing to me to see libraries make policy decisions that make it an unsafe environment for children, adults, and staff. Â I have been in the library with my child and have had to dodge what appear to be creepy people. Â I have had to make sure that we did not walk behind so called men, using library computers to look at porn. Â
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Libraries have strayed very far from their mission, when their decisions no longer make libraries a safe, secure, place in which everyone (especially children), can explore books.
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The poor girl probably thought he was going to kill her anyway to keep her silent.
The Judge should be working on this monster's lifetime committal if he values his job.
They are now raping your kids lefties. How does it feel? I bet not too good.
 @Telman@ How is this politics, idiot?
 @Glassman I agree politics are not involved, Democrats & Republican agree, heck even Cops and Felons even agree on this topic.
If anyone ever touched my kids they wouldn't make it to court....
 @Northriver But YOU probably would.
"But his mother doesn't believe he should be released." Wow - nice guy. Â If the State won't charge him with a second strike and lock him up for life with no chance of parole he will just be out on the street again in a few years to harm another innocent child.Â
We need an express way to the gallows for garbage like this! I have no patience for these people. Hang em all!
Sweet!
It won't count as a second strike? WTF!!! He attacked, kidnapped, and assaulted an 11 year old girl, and that's not bad enough for a second strike? We sure live in a wussy state, with a totally shi&&y legal system. We put people away for minimal crimes, ie: non-violent, non-theft, etc., and then these guys get free room and board, free medical, and on and on. I guess if the judicial system won't take care of him, just release him into general population in prison, and they will. (the charges I stated above aren't the ones he'll be charged with, but should be)
We as a nation need to look at other countries on how they handle these situations. In some countries any type of molestation results in death. I'm all for it. Our laws are to lenient for dirtbags like this. He was already charged with 1st degree rape. All 1st degree rape convictions should at a minimum result in 20 years behind bars. He would get plenty of rehab that way.
Well, if he "can't control himself" then he needs to be somewhere where someone else will control him... like prison.
 @JLS1950 oh he will be, for the rest of his life as a 2x offender.
 @fumblefacedolt  @JLS1950 Even if charged and convicted, the prosecutor said the incident would not count as Lear's second strike, which would lead to an automatic life sentence.
i used to be close friends with travis and alot has been done to him in the last 10 years im heartbroken to see him turn into this, i know that what he did was horrible and to that 11 year old i am so sorry but travis needs real mental help at this point.
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@Emily ..I am sorry for you and the way you are feeling now. It appears Travis has made very, very, poor choices thus far and his actions may have affected an 11 yr old for the rest of her life. It is long past time Travis Lear started to make better decisions. He will be offered help where he is going, if he does not accept responsibility for his actions and work damn hard to control his impulses, then Travis Lear needs to stay right where he is and society is better off.
Castration and brain modification are the only fixes. Anything else will fail and it will be costly. I feel sorry for his mother and won't blame her for loving him throughout this ordeal. He is a monster and cannot be left alone without medical (serious medical) intervention.Â
 @Socialjusticeforall Castration will have minimal to no effect.
Even his MOTHER doesn't want him to see the light of day. Cut off his hands and his genitals and throw him in with the general prison population. Let's see how well others 'control their urges'.
He needs to be put in a mental institution... a life sentence is a little harsh. I mean, he didn't take anyone's life so he should he lose his? I'm serious- the Tuba man killer, or that idiot Dinh Bowman save life in prison for them. The sad thing about this is that sex offenders/child predators are attracted to children, same as normal adults are attracted to other normal adults. They really cannot help it, however I think appropriate medication, some serious counseling and a FEW YEARS for sure, maybe 10, in a mental home (they won't get counseling in prison so they will never get better) would be sufficient. I mean, while horrendous and a sick crime... still, he should not be killed nor sentenced to life. The harsh penalties are for serial killers, or massive rapists like a Danford Grant. Save the big penalties for big fish. Give this guy 10 years, mandatory counseling and that should be sufficient.
 @keepthepeace28 The vast majority of sex offenders simply cannot be "rehabilitated" and will re-offend if given a chance. Execution is the only proven method to keep them from re-offending.
@Furd @keepthepeace28Â no its not thats really messed up to say people can be helped when they want it and he has wanted help for a long time but cant get it seeing as how everyone in that stupid town has marked him as a target since middle school and if gary ridgeway can keep on living than someone with mental problems should not be "executed" because they cant get help
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 @keepthepeace28 Justice in this country isn't about what makes sense or what fits the crime, it's about pacifying blind emotional rage. Looking at situations objectively is apparently something we have no concept of as Americans.Â
@jowsuf...I disagree with you. Most of us (yes, I am speaking for society) are law abiding and live within the rules of a community (exhibit âaâ is how many reading this have committed a serious crime like this one) . For whatever reason we are aware of a consequence to our actions and how our actions affect others (goes to "courtesy"). Those who break societyâs laws (repeatedly) do not care about others or the society they live in..they prey upon it and attempt to exploit our  âpeaceful community natureâ (that is what I call the effort we all make to live together peacefully) and what I  find frustrating is they are repeatedly allowed to do so..justice should not be about blind rage it should always be about appropriate punishment. Punishment used to be that no matter what, you would never want to have it done to you again so you made a better choice.
The justice system is not about pacifying blind rage it is about JUSTICE. It was about punishing those that did wrong and making them enough of an example so the next pervert would think twice. Today it is about giving the criminals a good place to sleep with better health care than those they victimize. It is wrong to think this animal will never "not be able to help himself". All that letting him out of his cage again will do is hurt another girl.
 @bustedupredneck That sounds good on paper, but people don't refrain from doing heinous acts because of the threat of punishment. People capable of doing these things are going to do them regardless. They don't think of the punishment and "think twice." Why do you think these things happen in the first place? Why do people steal? Why do they murder? Why do they rape? Haven't they seen what happens when you do those things? On the same token, if these punishments weren't in place, would many many more people do these things? Is threat of punishment all that's holding society back from becoming bloodthirsty killing machines? The idea is flawed from the start.
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How do you define justice? Justice IS pacifying an emotional response. Justice is "you do this, you get this." You reap what you sow. Justice has nothing to do with what makes sense or what helps society, and has everything to do with our desperate need to feel like the world is fair and balanced. It's a philosophy.Â
Time to ban public restrooms. -.-
 @peeplesuk Time to ban that ridiculous statement that's thrown on every news article like it's original and clever.
@jowsuf I dont know if your mad because you didn't think of this or that it is striking a sensative nerve. Either way, I have used this comment on 2 recent articles. Like 1......2. That is quite a bit different than EVERY news article Feinstein....ahem, I mean Einstein.
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@SouthofSeattle... OK it was used twice but I still laughed (guess I do not have a sophisticated sense of humor).
 @peeplesuk  @jowsuf If you used it twice already then it is old and trite. Keep it fresh, yo. Getchu a new line, dawg. And stay out of bathrooms because: they climbin' in yo' windows, snatchin' yo people up! Hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife, and hide yo' husband 'cause they rapin' everybody out here.
Good thing for  surveillance cameras.  This POS needs to be put far away and have Bubba drag his ass into a bathroom...Â
Additionally, he has a case pending right now. He is a sexual deviant and a thief. He is mentally ill.Â
HE is not in the data base as a level one sex offender. This information is misleading.Â
 @Valerie McCrumb Merkes Like I said, usually if someone is accused of a first time offense, and like his, it was statutory rape, they often plea bargain to a lesser charge that is not a sex offense. Hence not having to register as a sex offender. They have classes and probation much like deferring a DUI offense.
Some people just aren't right. There is something missing in their humanity or something. They need to be put down just as a mad dog would be, for the good of society. If he really hates what he's doing (as quoted in another online news article), letting him continue living this way can be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Put him out of his misery and ours.
This girl will have to live with what he has done to her for the rest of her life. This dirtbag deserves to get life with bubba
What would be wrong with this guy getting sentenced to permanent rehabilitation ?Â
 @Maynard G Krebbs The problem is that there isn't much that can be done as far as rehabilitation goes, or at least we haven't got there yet. It's sad, but these kind of guys most likely can't get helped so that they can safely remain in society. I understand the sentiment, though.
@Maynard G Krebbs  who is going to pay for it?
 @jennieb  @Maynard The cost, per person, is really miniscule even for a lifetime of incarceration. Figuring $50k a year for incarceration in a "treatment" facility and if he lives for 60 years the cost (not including inflation) would be about $3million. Divide that by the total population of the state, around 8million, and it comes to a whopping 38 cents from every man, woman and child in the state. That's a one-time charge of 38cents from each person to cover the entire 60 years of incarceration.
 @Maynard G Krebbs Your really asking that question, when this site is full of hateful people? I have to say - I'm impress that you are. There is nothing wrong with it. I have found that if you take the time to help someone, you get positive results.Â
 @Just my say  @Maynard G Krebbs You are more patient than most. You have written about this before, and I am glad your help if working for you & the people you take in.
 @keepthepeace28  @Just my say  @Maynard G Krebbs my comment was not really directed at the current case, just more at "Just my say". I think his business hires ex-cons to give them a second chance. the subject of this story needs to be in a mental facility for however long it takes. Duration depends on his progress.
You must not have kids.
 @keepthepeace28  @Komo Dragon  @Just my say  @Maynard G Krebbs I honestly commend your helpful souls. But, what you need to realize here is that you can not fix an organic brain problem away. You would have to nearly kill him with antiseizure/antipsychotic,/antidepressant drugs to "control" him. Then he would stop taking them, because they make him feel horrible.
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And counseling will not help either. I really mean this - I am all for chances in many cases, but the only way a human wired this way will not re-offend is if they are supervised 24/7.
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They REALLY ARE completely unable to control their urges. It all has to do with the brain and it's function, or malfunction in this case. I know it sounds harsh, but even he said it, "...he told the girl he couldn't control his urges."
 @Komo Dragon  @Just my say  @Maynard G Krebbs He needs to be put in a mental institution... a life sentence is a little harsh. I mean, he didn't take anyone's life so he should he lose his? I'm serious- the Tuba man killer, or that idiot Dinh Bowman save life in prison for them. The sad thing about this is that sex offenders/child predators are attracted to children, same as normal adults are attracted to other normal adults. They really cannot help it, however I think appropriate medication, some serious counseling and a FEW YEARS for sure, maybe 10, in a mental home (they won't get counseling in prison so they will never get better) would be sufficient. I mean, while horrendous and a sick crime... still, he should not be killed nor sentenced to life. The harsh penalties are for serial killers, or massive rapists like a Danford Grant. Save the big penalties for big fish. Give this guy 10 years, mandatory counseling and that should be sufficient.