PORT ANGELES — An 89-year-old Port Angeles man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison Wednesday for two counts of second-degree incest.
Charles Devoney pleaded guilty before Clallam County Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson on Wednesday. He also will be on 36 months of community custody following his release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
According to a prosecuting attorney’s office news release, a woman was walking her dog on Feb. 6 when she overheard Devoney talking to an 8-year-old on the other side of the street.
The woman heard Devoney tell the girl she was his “girlfriend,” according to the prosecutor’s release. He said, “If you want me to stop touching you, I will,” and “Don’t tell your mom and dad how much I hug you or they will never let me see me you.”
The woman called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers the location of Devoney and the girl, who was a relative of Devoney.
Port Angeles Police Detective Erik Smith interviewed the girl and said she described sexual assault after Devony had led her into his closet.
“The victim in this case was incredibly brave coming forward and sharing what Devoney had done to her,” said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Johnson.
“The statements that she and her family made at sentencing showed how devastating and confusing these crimes can be to both the child victims and their families,” he said.
Johnson also said the unnamed witness’s actions were critical to uncovering Devoney’s conduct.
“We may never have found out what he was doing to the victim without her,” Johnson said.