58-year-old baseball umpire charged with sexual abuse of a minor turns himself in

Update 4:57 p.m.: A 58-year-old baseball umpire from south King County accused of raping and drugging a 15-year-old girl has turned himself in, according to KIRO 7.

BREAKING: a child rape suspect from Covington turned himself in.

Earlier today there was a nationwide warrant for him.

Investigators were particularly concerned bc he was an umpire for kids. His FB posts show him in uniform for Little League 10 in Auburn.

Victim is 15 y/o girl pic.twitter.com/Ywya54iHL9

— Deedee Sun (@DeedeeKIRO7) September 28, 2022

The King County Prosecutor has charged Michael Wearmouth with rape of a child, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, commercial sexual abuse of a minor, and violation of the uniform controlled substances act.

Casey McNerthney with the prosecutor’s office said investigators believe Wearmouth “groomed” the girl for a period of time on social media. He said detectives believe Wearmouth gave the girl methamphetamine and also preyed on her for sex.

The Crime Blotter: Detectives searching for rape suspect, fear he may flee to Mexico

“We learned from investigators that he (Wearmouth) was a baseball umpire,” McNerthney said. “When you combine that with the allegations of meth and the allegations of child rape, there’s a lot to be concerned about.”

McNerthney said the victim suffered a serious brain injury in 2021, and doctors had warned she would suffer from personality changes and difficulties with impulse control.

“When you prey on people who are particularly vulnerable, that’s very concerning,” McNerthney said. “These are felony crimes that need to be charged.”

Investigators found multiple glass pipes in Wearmouth’s bedroom, along with baggies that contained trace amounts of methamphetamine, according to charging documents.

McNerthney said Wearmouth could face several years in prison if convicted. A $500,000 nationwide arrest warrant has been issued against him.

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