Man arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with minor 

Authorities arrested a man for alleged sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old girl, according to a Thurston County Sheriff's Office incident report. 

An investigation into the incident began on June 9, when a woman reported an allaged case of harassment.

Although the deputy determined the reported harassment didn’t meet the threshold for a criminal offense, authorities followed up with the individual accused of harassment. He was identified by sheriff's office records as Scott michael Ambeau.

The follow-up led to the discovery of more serious allegations. 

The woman, who is the mother of a 15-year-old girl, said that Ambeau, acted inappropriately toward her daughter. The suspect is a family friend the teenage girl called her “step-uncle.”

During a visit to a park at around 3 p.m. on July 1, 2024, Ambeau allegedly laid his head on the girl's lap while she was wearing a skirt, a sheriff's office report states. The mother witnessed the act and immediately confronted him, but Ambeau denied any wrongdoing. 

Later that day, the girl said she was alone with Ambeau in his vehicle. He allegedly reclined her seat and placed his hand on her inner thigh.

The girl said she told Ambeau to stop and tried to push his hand away, but he wouldn’t. The girl also claimed Ambeau made a sexually explicit comment to her. The mother said she did not report the incidents due to fear and embarrassment. 

Investigators consulted the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, which said the incident met the legal definition of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. 

Authorities then contacted the suspect and asked him to come to the Yelm Police Department. When told about the allegations, he said he didn’t know why the claims were being made.

He denied touching the girl and claimed the girl’s mother once said she wished he would get her daughter pregnant because she couldn’t have more children. 

According to the report, authorities arrested the 33-year old suspect and booked him into the Thurston County Jail on the charge of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. 

He made a preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday, June 11, court records show. An arraignment is scheduled for June 24.