Anna May Hartley, the wife of another suspect in a Clark County child sex abuse case, appeared with a black eye and pleaded not guilty during her Monday, May 18, arraignment in Clark County Superior Court.
Hartley, 41, was arrested by Vancouver police on Monday, May 11, and booked into the Clark County Jail on charges of first-degree trafficking and first-degree child molestation. Earlier allegations outlined in court records state she admitted knowledge of nude sexual encounters involving a minor and the three male suspects connected to the case. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 2.
Prosecutors previously argued Anna Hartley posed a danger to children. Finch told the court Hartley, like her husband, Chad Hartley, allegedly transported a 6-year-old girl to the home of one of the accused abusers and had recently supervised another young child.
Chad Hartley faces charges including first-degree child molestation, first-degree trafficking, voyeurism, sexual exploitation of a minor and multiple counts involving the possession and distribution of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Chad Hartley remains in Clark County Jail on $800,000 bail.
William Sneiderwine also remains jailed on $800,000 bail after prosecutors added multiple counts of possession of child pornography and alleged he destroyed evidence connected to the investigation.
Michael Wilmington, a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician who died of an apparent suicide in Lewis County after the investigation began, is tied to the broader investigation and allegations involving a minor engaged in fully nude sleepovers at his La Center home.
Court records reveal Wilmington, with the assistance of Anna Hartley, may have had other children at his house.
Investigations uncovered that Anna Hartley allowed Wilmington extensive and unsupervised access to an underage victim over several months, during which Wilmington engaged in inappropriate behavior, including sending nude images of the child in his home, according to court records.
Court records add that Anna Hartley shared images of other children with Wilmington and also brought them to his house.
Court records also state Wilmington was providing medical guidance and access to medication for Anna Hartley and the victim.
Chad Hartley faces a lengthy list of felony charges, including first-degree child molestation, first-degree trafficking, voyeurism, sexual exploitation of a minor and multiple counts related to possession and distribution of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Prosecutors indicated during a May 6 hearing that additional charges are still anticipated as investigators continue reviewing evidence gathered throughout the case.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, the case has also sparked civil litigation. A lawsuit has been filed against Kaiser Permanente over Wilmington’s alleged conduct throughout his 30-plus year career.
According to the lawsuit, filed by Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC, known as PCVA Law, numerous survivors have recently come forward alleging sexual abuse and inappropriate conduct by Wilmington during medical examinations over several decades.
Attorneys claim survivors described medically inappropriate genital and breast examinations conducted without gloves or chaperones, unnecessary nudity and repeated comments encouraging nudity.
PCVA Law attorneys also alleged parents and medical staff had reported concerns about Wilmington to Kaiser Permanente for years. Among the allegations cited in the lawsuit are reports that Wilmington invited children to his home and made inappropriate comments during examinations.
