Ex-officer's girlfriend also held in boy's reported rape

TACOMA — A relative of a developmentally disabled boy allegedly raped by a retired city police officer is under investigation in the case.

The officer, Lee William Giles Jr., who frequently visited schools and appeared on television and radio during his 30-year police career, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court to three counts each of first- and second-degree child rape and one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor and of possession of child pornography.

Judge Katherine M. Stolz set bail at $1 million and Giles, 61, initially held in isolation from other inmates, was moved to a jail in another county for his own safety, officials said. If convicted on all counts, he could face 20 to 26 years in prison.

Also on Thursday, Giles' 46-year-old girlfriend — a relative of the boy — was arrested for investigation of two counts of first-degree child molestation and three counts of first-degree child rape. She was placed on suicide watch, sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said.

Investigators were looking into any contacts Giles might have had with other children, Officer Mark W. Fulghum said.

"We'll see where the investigation leads us," Fulghum told The News Tribune.

As an officer, Giles appeared with Harvey, the talking motorcycle, in a grade-school program designed to make officers less scary and was involved in the TV program "Behind the Shield." After retiring he became host of the radio show "Crime Time" on KLAY-AM.

There was no history of accusations of sexual misconduct by Giles while he was on the police force from 1970 until his retirement in 2000, officials said.

"This came as a complete surprise," Fulghum said.

According to documents filed by prosecutors in court, the case came to light last month after the boy, now 18, moved to Spokane County to live with his father and told his father that Giles had raped him. He later told investigators he also had been forced to perform sex acts with the woman.