Ephrata man charged with rape of a child

QUINCY — An Ephrata man was jailed over the weekend and charged earlier this week for allegedly raping a young girl.

Grant County prosecutors charged Misael Hernandez Sierra, 28, of Ephrata, in Grant County Superior Court with first-degree rape of a child.

The charge relates to a call the Grant County Sheriff’s Office received on Saturday from a Quincy officer after a young girl was brought into the Quincy Valley Medical Center in reference to a possible rape that occurred in the county, according to court documents.

The victim, a nine-year-old girl, spent the night at the home of Hernandez Sierra and his wife in their rural Ephrata residence the day before. She said at some point during the night she felt something touching her private area. She claimed she opened her eyes briefly and saw Hernandez Sierra kneeling on the floor next to her bed, with one of his hands rubbing her private area. She said she rolled away from Hernandez Sierra to get him to stop and she didn’t think he knew she woke up or saw him. Hernandez Sierra then allegedly ran out of the room.

The victim advised Hernandez Sierra was wearing blue shorts with white stripes, black sandals and no shirt, which is a description Hernandez Sierra himself confirmed during an interview with the investigating deputy.

“Misael advised he wore blue shorts and a white shirt to bed. Misael advised when he woke up he was wearing the blue shorts with white stripes on them and had taken his shirt off when he was in bed. Misael advised he was also wearing black and blue sandals (his wife) had just bought for him,” wrote the deputy.

Hernandez Sierra claimed he never went into the room the victim was sleeping in and said she “likes to make up stories.”