PORT ANGELES — A former Sequim pastor will spend at least 26 ½ years in prison for raping a young girl.
Steven G. Welty, 59, was sentenced Tuesday in Clallam County Superior Court to life in prison with an opportunity for parole after 318 months for six counts of child rape, six counts of child molestation and six counts of incest.
The victim is related to Welty and was younger than 10 years old when the crimes occurred.
Judge S. Brooke Taylor decided the verdict of guilty on all counts after a three-day trial that ended Oct. 6.
Welty waived his right to a jury trial.
He told investigators that he was the former pastor of the Glory House Church in Sequim, which closed about two years ago, and moved to the area about 14 years ago from Grays Harbor County.
He founded the Sequim Community Help Center in 2001.