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Sex offender suspected of child molestation in Yelm

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published April 07, 2009

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YELM – A 45-year-old registered sex offender was arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted first-degree child molestation after an 11-year-old girl said the man molested her at church functions at the Church of the Nazarene in Yelm, according to the Yelm Police Department.

Daniel Holdren, 45, was being held at Thurston County Jail on Monday night on suspicion of three counts of attempted first-degree child molestation pending a "safe-to-be-at-large" evaluation. During such an evaluation, a health care professional interviews a defendant to determine the public safety concerns if that defendant were to be released from custody.

Yelm Police Chief Todd Stancil said Monday that police fear there might be more victims that have not come forward yet. He said that Holdren's alleged acts of molestation against the 11-year-old started occurring in July "at church-type functions."

Holdren was arrested Saturday after the 11-year-old came forward with her allegations.

"We're expecting there's more," Stancil said. "We believe there's probably additional incidents like this."

Stancil said anyone with additional information should contact the Yelm Police Department at 360-458-5701.

Holdren has been classified as a Level 2 sex offender since 1988, when he was charged with indecent liberties, and later in 2003 when he was charged with communication with a minor for immoral purposes, according to Yelm Police. Holdren has been on supervised probation since that time.

Holdren did not work at the Church of the Nazarene but attended services there, Stancil said. Stancil said the alleged molestation occurred at events like church dinners and other church functions, and occurred in the area of the church itself.

Stancil said there was nothing in Holdren's probationary requirements that would prevent him from having contact with children at the church.

Stancil said Holdren engaged in grooming behaviors at the church, giving potential victims gifts and other items to gain their trust.

A man who answered the phone at the Church of the Nazarene hung up when contacted by The Olympian on Monday.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety at The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.