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Man accused of animal abuse pleads not guilty to child rape

Published  August 11, 2015 1:07pm PDT
Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A man awaiting trial on animal cruelty charges in Thurston County has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting minors in Pierce County.

The Olympian reports that 27-year-old David Williford was arrested Friday and booked into the Pierce County Jail. He faces several charges, including second-degree rape of a child and first-degree child molestation.

The alleged sex abuse was uncovered while Williford was in custody on animal cruelty charges. Williford allegedly began abusing two girls, ages 5 and 8, years ago. The abuse lasted years.

Court records state that Williford was arrested in February after animal control officers found animal remains and starved animals in his Olympia-area home. Smeared blood splattered the inside of his home, the Olympian reports.

He pleaded not guilty to the animal cruelty charges and was released on $50,000 as he awaits trial.

An attorney for Williford could not be reached.