Washington man arrested for sexual abuse of minors

A Washington man was arrested Monday in connection with a pair of sexual abuse complaints in December 2021.

Devon Charlie Eugene Knerr, 18, of Washington was arrested and charged with sexual abuse second degree (a Class B felony) and sexual abuse third degree (a Class C felony).

According to the criminal complaints, Washington police received a report of sexual abuse involving two minor females and Knerr, which occurred on Dec. 28, 2021.

The complaint stated that one of the minor females, who was 13 at the time, said that Knerr, who was 17 at the time of the incident, arrived at the house and appeared to be intoxicated.

“He took her upstairs and forced her to perform oral sex and then forced her (to) perform vaginal sex,” the complaint said.

The other minor female, who was 14, said that while the first female was still upstairs, she was alone with Knerr downstairs, where he, “placed her on the couch, grasped beneath her shirt and bra, fondling her breasts, and then placed his hand over her pubic area.”

According to the complaint, additional witnesses corroborated portions of the statements made by the minor females, and that Knerr declined to be interviewed.

Knerr’s bond was set at $35,000, cash or surety bail, and he is being held in the Washington County Jail.

Judge Larry J. Brock also issued orders of protection for both of the females, forbidding Knerr to have any contact with them.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3 at the Washington County Courthouse.

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