Moses Lake man accused of child molestation

Editor's note: This article contains descriptions of sexual acts and may not be suitable for children.

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake business owner is facing child molestation and indecent liberties charges in connection with a recent arrest.

Craig R. Jungers, 75, of Moses Lake has been charged in Grant County Superior Court with three counts of first-degree child molestation and indecent liberties.

The charges against Jungers stem from an Oct. 18 disclosure of a 17-year-old girl, who claimed she had been sexually assaulted by Jungers approximately 10 years ago. The girl was interviewed by police and described an incident in which Jungers allegedly fondled and kissed her chest. She also claimed Jungers had watched pornography and masturbated in front of her, after which she said he directed her and another young girl, who has since moved from the area, to touch his penis.

She said after the second incident she confronted Jungers and told him his conduct was wrong, which he reportedly agreed with and also agreed to stop touching her and the other alleged victim. The victim says she didn't come forward for fear it would damage her family's friendship with Jungers. But she ultimately came forward after she learned Jungers had “befriended” a 9-year-old girl in his neighborhood and was spending time alone with the girl at his residence.

The teen agreed to call Jungers and to have the call recorded. When the victim contacted Jungers he reportedly said he knew why he she was calling and said “he was getting ready to go to jail.” After the victim told Jungers she wanted to make sure the same thing that happened to her wasn't happening to the 9-year-old, he allegedly told her it was happening to the girl “by someone else and she was able to take care of herself.”

On the allegations from 10 years ago, Jungers went on to tell the victim he was tickling her one night and she put his hand in between her legs, after which he claimed she put his hand on her chest and then moved it in between her legs again, then back up to her chest. He claims the girl put his hand “down inside” her pants, which is when the girl's mom entered the room and he says he told the girl “we can't do this.”

Jungers went on to describe other occasions in which he claimed similar incidents occurred. He also claimed to only have a “vague memory” of the victim touching his penis and when asked if they ever had sex he said there was an incident “when they were in the truck together.”

“Upon reviewing the conversation between Jungers and (the victim), it was apparent he had been grooming (the victim) by showing her pornographic material, playing childlike games with her, and entertaining sexual behavior between them. Jungers had acted on his sexual fantasy towards (the victim),” wrote a detective.

In an interview with police the second alleged victim from 10 years ago said she does not remember Jungers touching her inappropriately. When Jungers was pulled over and taken into custody on Oct. 23 the 9-year-old possible victim was in the front seat of his vehicle. Jungers claimed nothing happened with the 9-year-old and he refused to speak about the allegations further.

Jungers' LinkedIn page states he has owned the Moses Lake-based Craig Jungers Consulting, which specializes in network design, security and administration, for almost nine years.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.