UNNAMED VICTIMS - Girl 14 yo, boy 15 yo - / Accused: Travis Padgett, alias Travis McDougal - Sex dungeon - Yakima, WA

Police ID more potential victims in rape case, discover 'sex dungeon'


Published: Jan 24, 2013 at 7:29 PM PDT


Last Updated: Jan 25, 2013 at 3:11 PM PDT


YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima police say they have identified more potential underage victims of Travis Padgett, the Yakima man at the center of a disturbing child rape investigation.

As of now, he's accused of having sex with a child nearly 50 times.

So, who is this man accused of such terrible things?

Under the alias of Travis McDougal, Padgett's Facebook page shows a man who seems to have it together.

Padgett is a paralegal who works for the Association of Washington State
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, according to his Facebook.

"Looks like a normal guy. Carry on a job, have communication with the
public and nobody would probably think any different," said Capt. Rod
Light, Yakima police spokesperson.

Police said the 39-year-old was living another life few people saw down in his basement.

Investigators say it was a room for sex crimes.

"I mean that's how some are coining it as being a sex dungeon," Light said.

Police got their first look at the basement after arresting Padgett for
having sex with a child nearly 50 times. That's when officers say they
found a 14 year-old girl.

Detectives say she's from Seattle but won't explain comment on how she got there.

This all came to light when the first child went to a student resource officer.

"May have reached his breaking point," Light said. "That he couldn't deal with it anymore."

Court documents indicate Padgett made the child "participate in sex acts
with the females." They also stated the kid was, "Frequently exposed to
pornography while engaging in the various sex acts."

Yakima police say this case is one of the worst of the worst but the
investigation is far from over; detectives say they've identified more
potential underage victims that have come forward.

Danielle Surkatty is a human trafficking advocate in the Yakima Valley and said the case raises red flags.

"Where's the line between child exploitation and trafficking?" KIMA asked.

"Where you can draw the line is between child exploitation and
trafficking is whether or not there was any kind of financial gain,"
Surkatty said.

That could be money or drugs. Other experts say kids subjected to this are often videotaped.

Yakima detectives can't confirm whether this is a case of human
trafficking. They're analyzing computers taken from Padgett's home.

A lawyer for the Association of Washington State Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce said Padgett was a temporary employee, not full-time.

Action News has not disclosed the age or gender of the child involved in this case to help protect the victim's identity.

http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/188298521.html

Travis Padgett in court, next hearing late July
Published: May 29, 2013 at 5:08 PM PST




YAKIMA, Wash.-- An accused child rapist appeared in court today to ask for more time until his next hearing.

Travis Padgett is suspected of having sex with a child dozens of times and giving that child drugs. His next hearing isn't until late July. Investigators are still talking to witnesses. Forensic evidence hasn't gone to the state lab yet.

http://www.kimatv.com/home/video/Travis-Padgett-in-court-next-hearing-late-July-209437631.html

Jury selected for trial of man suspected of having sex with child

By KIMA Staff Published: Oct 11, 2013 at 4:37 PM PST Last Updated: Oct 11, 2013 at 4:56 PM PST

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. -- Opening statements are scheduled for Monday in the trial of a Yakima man accused of child rape.

The prosecution and defense wrapped up jury selection for Padgett's case Friday afternoon.

Padgett is accused of having sex with a child dozens of times and giving the child drugs.

Police said a second victim was found in his basement.

http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Jury-selected-in-case-against-accused-child-rapist-227462771.html

Padgett Found Guilty in Rape Case

Published Friday, October 25th, 2013

Travis Padgett

Travis Padgett breathed a sigh of disappointment after a judge reads his verdict.
He now faces an undetermined amount of time in prison for raping three minors.
Dianne sat in the courtroom as the verdict was read -- she knows one of the victims, but requested we not show her face on camera for that individuals protection.

"These children deserved it," said Dianne, "They deserved justice and he got it today."

The jury found padgett guilty of 13 of the 14 crimes he was accused of -- those include third degree rape, incest and giving meth to minors.
Padgett was arrested in January after a child reported the activity to a school officer.

When police searched his home, they found a 14 year old girl in his basement.
A third underage victim was named later on.

"[Padgett] took things from the victims, from the families that can never be [taken] Back," said Dianne, "And I don't think he'll ever realize what he's done."

While prosecutors don't have a reccomended sentence time set yet, they do say a major milestone has been cleared; proving Padgett guilty.

"We want to protect children, we want to prevent crimes from occurring," said Deputy Prosecutor Patti Powers, "There's not enough anybody can do in that regard, but everyone involved in this case did everything possible to address those kinds of issues."

"The three children stood up and they were strong, they beat him when no one else could," said Dianne, "They told the truth and they exposed him for the true person he was, I'm very proud of each and every one of them for doing that too."

Padgett will be sentenced next month.


http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2013/oct/25/padgett-found-guilty-rape-case/

Yakima man convicted of child rape wants new trial

By KIMA Staff Published: Dec 13, 2013 at 4:13 PM PST Last Updated: Dec 13, 2013 at 5:42 PM PST

»Play Video Travis Padgett

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. -- A Yakima man convicted of child rape wants a new trial.

Travis Padgett petitioned the court claiming his defense team was inadequate.

Padgett was found guilty in October on 13 charges.

The paralegal was arrested after a child reported the rape to a school resource officer. Three kids came forward with allegations against him.

http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/Yakima-man-convicted-of-child-rape-wants-new-trial-235810571.html