Man accused of Olympia-area animal abuse pleads not guilty to Pierce County sex crimes

A man accused of torturing and killing animals in Thurston County pleaded not guilty Monday to sexually assaulting minors in Pierce County.

David Williford, 27, is charged with six counts of first-degree child molestation, two counts of second-degree rape and second-degree rape of a child.

Police booked him into the Pierce County Jail on Friday after he was arrested in Seattle on a warrant for the alleged sex crimes. Bail was set at $100,000.

According to court records:

Williford was arrested in February after animal control officers found animal remains, starving dogs, rats and rabbits, and blood smeared in his Olympia-area home.

He pleaded not guilty to six counts of first-degree animal cruelty and six counts of second-degree animal cruelty, and was released on $50,000 bail as he awaits trial.

An acquaintance called Thurston County prosecutors while Williford was in custody to report he had raped two minor girls.

Police interviewed the girls, who said Williford had sexually assaulted them for years, beginning when they were about 5 and 8 years old.

An attorney for Williford was not reachable Monday.

This story was originally published August 10, 2015 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Man accused of Olympia-area animal abuse pleads not guilty to Pierce County sex crimes."