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Woodland firefighter suspended following rape charge

Friday, July 18, 2008 11:36 PM PDT

By Leila Summers

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A Woodland firefighter has been put on paid administrative leave following allegations he raped a 15 year old girl known to him.

Jared L. Hargrave, 33, remained in Cowlitz County Jail as of Friday in lieu of $75,000 bail. He’s charged with second-degree rape and third-degree rape of a child.

Cowlitz County deputies arrested Hargrave on July 9 after the alleged victim called police. The assault allegedly happened near the Kalama fairgrounds, according to court documents.

Hargrave on Tuesday resigned as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with Cowlitz Fire District 5 in Kalama.

Woodland Fire Chief Tony Brentin said he hasn’t had contact with Hargrave — who’s one of only two paid full-time firefighters on staff — since the arrest.

“Yeah, it shocked all of us,” Brentin said of the allegations.

Volunteer firefighters are filling Hargrave’s shift for the time being, Brentin said.

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mole wrote on Jul 19, 2008 10:06 AM:

" paid leave,while in jail,for rape charges.Whats that about,don't seem right to me, innocent or not,when in jail no paid leave,out a different story "

openminded wrote on Jul 19, 2008 4:23 PM:

" Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? These are allegations, and obviously still not proven or they wouldn't have dropped from the initial charge of 1st degree rape. If this guy is innocent why should his life be screwed up and him loose his job or wages until its proven. Think about it, it could happen to anyone. All it takes is one pissed off teenager to cry rape. He shouldn't loose everything until he is found guilty. "

Woodlander wrote on Jul 19, 2008 5:30 PM:

" It seems to me anyone else who is incarcerated and can't be there to do their job usually losses it. Not when you work for the city of Woodland apparently. "

mole wrote on Jul 19, 2008 8:05 PM:

" he is 33 she 15 that is statutory rape even if she said ok.That guy should be in big trouble,he is the problem,he can't controll his zipper.And yes he is innocent untill proven quilty,but he is in jail not able to show up for work,by his OWN ACTIONS, and should not be classed as on paid leave!!! "

me again wrote on Jul 19, 2008 9:36 PM:

" OK people. Why are you taking just one side of what you read or hear? I know this family all of them. And it is hard to think of this man doing this. I have to agree with openminded on this. Why are you all ready to put him away for life, and taking everything from him? Let's see how this plays out in the court. Teenagers that don't get their own way, do do stupit things. So again let's knot hang the guy just yet. "

El Fuego wrote on Jul 20, 2008 8:07 AM:

" Even though the first paragraph of the article says paid administrative leave, the fourth paragraph says he has resigned. I'm confused, which is it? Innocent until proven guilty - Yes "

Leslie Slape wrote on Jul 20, 2008 9:27 AM:

" He's on administrative leave as a paid firefighter in Woodland. He resigned as a volunteer in Kalama. "

El Fuego wrote on Jul 20, 2008 1:55 PM:

" Thank you Leslie for clearing that up. "

Girth VonPhister wrote on Jul 20, 2008 3:08 PM:

" Openminded is absolutely right. This could happen to anyone. All it take is a false accusation and your life could be ruined. As for paid leave.. Perhaps if some of you worked real jobs that required skills and knowledge, you would have that benefit. I realize Burger King probably would fire you, but he is a professional. I don't think any compassionate employer would fire anyone just because some allegations were made that prevented you from going to work. It is attituse and veiws like yours that keep our justice system from working the way it is supposed to. "

me again wrote on Jul 20, 2008 4:32 PM:

" Thanks Girth VonPhister, its nice to see people looking at both sides. "

emsworker wrote on Jul 20, 2008 11:17 PM:

" I know Jared personally very well as I work with him quite often as a paramedic in Woodland and he does not seem like the type of person that would do this type of thing however you never really know anyone. That being said this man has put his life on the line many times to protect life and property and please do not judge this man until everything is truely told. He is innocent until proven guilty and too many people jump to conclusions and I used to as well until I had to serve jury duty and it happened to be a sexual assault case and the judge asked me who I came up in the elevator with and I had no idea as I didn't pay any atttention and he asked if the female happened to make an ACCUSATION that I did something how could I defend myself? YOU CANT! Jared has a long road ahead of hime if he is found innocent he will still be labeled. "

Da' Haba wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:04 PM:

" Normally during an administative leave the firefighter's accrued vacation, holiday, and comp-time banks are used until return or termination. The money is already owed to the person, so it should not be viewed as a loss to the city.

emsworker is correct when pointing out that accusations are very easy to make for a number of reasons (revenge, sympathy, attention, diversion, spite, etc.)

On the other hand, if he did do it, he betrayed everyone including his brothers and definitely should get the maximum time. "

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