Bail $300,000 for Vancouver woman accused in child molestation investigation
May 12-A judge Tuesday ordered $300,000 bail for a Vancouver woman tied to a child molestation investigation involving three others, including her husband and a Clark County pediatrician who has since died by apparent suicide.
Anna May Hug Hartley, 41, appeared in front of Clark County Superior Court Judge Tsering Cornell on allegations of first-degree child molestation and first-degree trafficking.
Her husband, Chad Hartley, 36, was arrested April 29, and a search warrant was served at their home. The Vancouver Police Department began investigating in February after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children regarding child sex abuse material from a Vancouver IP address. Police said they later identified Chad Hartley as the suspect.
Over the course of the investigation, police connected Chad Hartley to Dr. Michael Wilmington, 61, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek. Wilmington was found dead by apparent suicide May 2, a day after a judge issued an arrest warrant for first-degree child molestation.
A third man, William J. Sneiderwine, 61, of Vancouver, who police say was friends with Wilmington and Chad Hartley, was arrested last week on suspicion of first-degree conspiracy to commit child molestation and tampering with physical evidence.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prosecutor Megan Finch expressed concerned for the safety of the victim, who's known to Anna Hartley and the other suspects. Finch said Anna Hartley transported the child to Wilmington's La Center residence, where he hosted sleepovers in the nude.
Finch said Anna Hartley may have access to other children. Investigators searched Anna Hartley's phone, Finch said, and found multiple photos of a nude child had been sent to Wilmington, presumably for his sexual gratification.
The judge ordered Anna Hartley to have no contact with her co-defendants or any children.
According to court records, the victim told Anna Hartley that Wilmington had sexually touched her. Police said Anna Hartley never reported the sexual abuse to law enforcement. Text messages between Anna Hartley and Wilmington stated she brought other young children to his home. The two exchanged nude photos of the victim.
Court records state that Wilmington provided medical guidance, care and medications to Anna Hartley and the victim.
Anna Hartley is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Chad Hartley is being held in the Clark County Jail on $800,000 bail. He is facing four counts each of second-degree possessing and dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, one count of first-degree child molestation, one count of first-degree trafficking, two counts of first-degree possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, two counts of first-degree voyeurism and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Court records state Chad Hartley worked in the family medicine department at PeaceHealth Fisher's Landing Clinic. PeaceHealth previously told The Columbian the organization fired Chad Hartley after he was arrested. He told investigators he worked with children as young as newborns. Sneiderwine is being held on $750,000 bail for first-degree conspiracy to commit child molestation and tampering with physical evidence.
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