Mountlake Terrace man accused of raping boy at Aberdeen motel

HOQUIAM, Wash. — Police are crediting a quick-thinking foster parent for helping catch a man accused of child rape.

Authorities say on July 11, 60-year-old Mountlake Terrace man Robert Wayne Wright drove to Hoquiam to pick up a 13-year-old boy he met online who claimed to be 18.

Police say Wright drove the 13-year-old to a motel in Aberdeen and sexually assaulted him before dropping him off in Hoquiam.

Hoquiam police say the victim's foster parent, who was concerned because the boy was out later than usual, saw him being dropped off and took a cellphone picture of the license plate, which helped police track down and arrest Wright at the Aberdeen motel.

Detectives say Wright claimed the victim told him he was 18, but he suspected the victim was perhaps younger- such as 16- or 17-years old. But investigators say they were not convinced that Wright believed the victim was actually 18, especially after learning he last worked as a contracted speech pathologist and child psychologist at a King County school district.

Wright was preliminarily charged and is being held in the Grays Harbor County Jail on $100,000 bond. If released, he has been court ordered not to have contact with children under the age 18.

The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has been notified of Wright’s employment within a public school.

Anyone with information about the Hoquiam/Aberdeen investigation is asked to call Hoquiam police Detective David Peterson at 360-532-0892 extension 276 or email dpeterson@cityofhoquiam.com.

Cox Media Group