Bail set at $50,000 for Thurston County child rape suspect

A Thurston County judge set bail at $50,000 on Thursday for a man suspected of raping a girl when she was between the ages of 6 and 7 years old.

Charles. R. Blacketer, who is transient, appeared before Superior Court Judge James Dixon. Blacketer pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree child rape and third-degree child rape.

According to court documents, the victim and her mother came forward in April 2015 to report the alleged abuse to the Lacey Police Department. The girl reported that Blacketer, who was her mother’s boyfriend at the time, had forced her to have sex with him. She said Blacketer continued to rape her about twice a month until she was 15 years old.

Blacketer told detectives he never had sexual contact with the girl.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 5:57 AM with the headline "Bail set at $50,000 for Thurston County child rape suspect."