Former UW dining manager charged with sexually exploiting two Washington teens

A former University of Washington (UW) dining manager is facing six felony charges after prosecutors said he groomed and sexually exploited two teenage girls from Benton and Pierce counties.

Grant Lee Hough, 56, the university’s former general manager of residential dining, was arrested by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) on June 16 and later charged in King County with six felonies, including commercial sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. He has pleaded not guilty, The Seattle Times reported.

According to charging documents, the investigation began in March after the mother of a 15-year-old Benton County girl found sexually explicit messages on her daughter’s cellphone and contacted the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives identified Hough, a Seattle resident, as the suspect and coordinated the investigation with Seattle police.

Prosecutors claimed Hough communicated with the girls through messaging apps before traveling to meet them. Court documents said he provided the teens with money and gifts, like shoes and clothing, alcohol, marijuana, and vaping materials, and used encrypted and auto-deleting messages in an effort to avoid detection — including video of encounters in hotel rooms.

Investigators also alleged Hough continued contacting one of the girls after learning law enforcement was investigating his communications with the other victim.

During his arrest, police say they discovered a carry-on suitcase the suspect allegedly used as a “to-go sex kit,” filled with sex toys, clothing, zip ties, lubricant, and other items.

Hough pleaded not guilty and is being held in the King County Jail on $750,000 bail.

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