JBLM soldier accused of child rape, possession of child porn
Feb 13, 2014, 8:01 AM | Updated: 9:28 am
A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier has been arrested for allegedly raping a child over a three year period.
Washington State Patrol Sgt. Jason Hicks said they worked with many different agencies after getting a tip from Florida Tuesday.
The tip alleged 27-year-old Joseph French had raped a child several times.
French is an active-duty Sergeant stationed at JBLM. Hicks said they worked quickly after receiving the tip so that he wouldn’t have any time to victimize more children.
“Our goal (Tuesday) was to make sure that this individual was taken into custody and put some place where no other victims could happen, from that moment on,” explained Hicks.
The FBI was also involved when the State Patrol found information that led them to believe some of the sexual activity was being shared over the Internet.
According to Hicks, it’s not uncommon in these kinds of cases, that once the suspect is in custody, other victims will come forward.
So far, law enforcement only knows of one victim.
“We are encouraging anyone else whose children might have had contact with Mr. French, to contact the Washington State Patrol’s missing and exploited children taskforce at 360.704.2410.”
French has been charged with rape of a child in the first degree, dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, possession of depictions of minors, and viewing depictions of minors.
