After sex abuse allegations surfaced involving a high-ranking Cowlitz County administrator, local officials said Tuesday there’s no information linking those allegations with a juvenile detention facility he’s overseen.
“My initial estimation is that this did not spill into his work,” said Troy Brightbill, the chief criminal deputy at the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, which first fielded the report of sex abuse. “It doesn’t mean it’s all the information, but I certainly haven’t received any information to indicate that it involved his work.”
Chadwick Michael Connors, 41, faces charges that more than a decade ago he raped a female family member when she was a child. The charges include two counts of first-degree rape of a child and two counts of first-degree incest.
As a Cowlitz County Superior Court administrator, Connors has overseen the Cowlitz County Youth Center since 2009. The facility houses juveniles — boys and girls — in the criminal justice system.
According to the initial investigation into Connors, his role supervising children factored into the family member’s decision to file a police report on Feb. 4, more than a decade after the incident she described.
“(The family member) said she felt someone should know about this because Chad works with children,” wrote Clark County Sheriff’s Office Det. James Phelps on March 21.
A Cowlitz County deputy first interviewed the family member Feb. 13. Because Connors is a Cowlitz County employee, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office asked the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to lead the investigation.
The Lewis County prosecuting attorney is leading the criminal case against Connors. Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Meyer filed charges against him on April 13.
Meyer, like Brightbill, said there are no current allegations concerning Connors and the youth center.
“The only allegation we have is the abuse of family,” Meyer said. “We’ve been brought in on this single issue.”
Connors remains employed by Cowlitz County, according to County Commissioner Arne Mortenson. Connors earns $124,920 annually, plus benefits. He landed on administrative leave on Feb. 16.
Despite being charged with felony sex crimes, Connors has not been taken into custody ahead of his arraignment. Meyer said that is due to the amount of time between the events described by the female family member and the charges being filed.
“Given the lapse between events and charging (years) and the fact his access to other kids was limited (administrative leave) and the fact that he remained in the area throughout, there really wasn’t a basis for a warrant,” Meyer said in a text message.