Woman arrested and charged with raping 15-year-old boy
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 9 months AGO
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | March 12, 2023 5:54 PM
EPHRATA - Andrea Campos Hernandez, 22, Moses Lake has been arrested after an investigation into alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old Warden High School student, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
“The alleged misconduct started in 2021 when the boy was 13 and Hernandez was 21,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the victim advised investigators that he first had sexual relations with Campos Hernandez at his home when he was 13 years of age. Since then, he said the pair had additional physical encounters at her home. The pair had also shared sexually explicit images and possibly video with one another via cell phones, he said.
A search warrant was served for data on Campos Hernandez’s phone on March 3 and records were found indicating she had sent photos of herself in her underwear, pictures of her breast and images of herself and the victim engaged in intercourse.
Hernandez was then located on March 6 while leaving her job as a childcare provider at Big Bend Community College. She was subsequently arrested at the nearby GCSO substation in Moses Lake and is lodged in the Grant County Jail on suspicion of second-degree rape of a child, the statement said.
“This employee passed a state background check before she was able to work in this position at Big Bend Community College at the Learning Center Childcare. This employee has also passed a state childcare licensing background check in addition. This is a very unfortunate situation and BBCC will work with the Warden Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in any way we can to help with their investigation,” a statement from BBCC said.
Hernandez worked for GEARUp, a federal grant program administered via Washington State University. The program partners with local school districts to help low-income students prepare to succeed in college. She was working with Moses Lake High School students at the time of her arrest, but had worked at Warden High School prior to that. The Warden School District had also employed her as a substitute teacher during March, April and June of 2022, the statement said.
Victims of similar sexual misconduct are encouraged to call 888-560-6027 for assistance.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case may contact the Warden Police Department at 509-793-1300 and reference case 23WA0422.
R. Hans Miller may be reached at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER
Ferguson, GOP submit supplemental budgets
OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has released his proposed supplemental budget for the upcoming legislative session which is set to start Jan. 12. The governor submits his proposal and the legislature sets their own priorities as a budget is worked out. “I’m providing a road map to the legislature,” Ferguson said during a Tuesday press conference. “This is, of course, the first step in a conversation about how best to balance our budget. Legislators will, of course, have their own ideas, and obviously, I've had conversations with leadership in recent weeks regarding my proposed budget. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with them and all members, of course, of the legislature as this proposed budget moves over to the legislative branch.”
Local group holds holiday give-away
MOSES LAKE — Moms Helping Moms of Grant County – a Facebook group that has grown to include parents of both sexes and people of all ages – held a Christmas give-away event at Rick’s in Moses Lake last week.
WSP warns of scams in wake of trooper's death
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Patrol is asking the public to respect the family’s privacy and to be mindful of potential scams after Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting was killed in a roadside accident near Tacoma Friday. “Though we are grateful for the intended kindness and support, the Washington State Patrol does not accept monetary donations from the public,” said WSP Director of Public Affairs in a statement released Tuesday.