Woman Accused of Child Rape

(Tacoma, Washington) A 46-year-old woman, Maureen "Mo" Wear, faces trial on multiple charges of child rape for sexually abusing three children, one of which is a relative, over a period of years. She was arrested in August and since has been on suicide watch.

Wear's boyfriend, Lee William Giles Jr., a retired Tacoma police officer, is also charged in the systematic abuse of the three children. Giles is charged with 26 sex crimes and has pleaded not guilty. His trial date is not known.

Last week, at a hearing before Pierce County Superior Court Judge Thomas Felnagle, defense attorney Mary Kay High requested that Wear be allowed to attend her trial dressed in something other than a green, padded smock reserved for jail inmates on suicide watch. High also requested that television cameras be prohibited from videotaping Wear. Judge Felnagle denied both requests.

Wear remains jailed on $500,000 bond. Her trial is scheduled for January 23.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 11/27/07]

Giles and Wear plead guilty.