Sequim man arrested for allegedly trying to sexually exploit children

Published 2:00 pm Sunday, June 15, 2025

Sequim police arrested Craig A. Gallauher, 52, of Sequim on charges of sexual exploitation of two minor children following an investigation by detectives with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release issued by the Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred sometime between March 31 and April 4 at Gallauher’s campsite near the Dungeness River, south of Railroad Bridge Park.

The parents of a nine-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl, who said that Gallauher was a friend of the family, allowed the children to visit Gallauher at his campsite.

When the children asked Gallauher to take them fishing, Gallauher allegedly said he would do so only if they removed their clothing and sat on a mound of dirt that he referred to as a “sex chair,” the press release stated.

The children fled the campsite.

Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted child forensic interviews with each of the children and determined there was probable cause to arrest Gallauher on two counts of attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (a Class B felony) and two counts of Luring (a Class C felony).

Detectives searched the area of the Dungeness Railroad Bridge Park and located a campsite that was believed to be Gallauher’s.

The campsite and a nearby mound of dirt matched the description provided by the minors during their interviews.

Gallauher was arrested by Sequim Police at about 10 p.m. Friday, June 13, in the area of West Brackett Road and Juniper Mobile Estates. He was booked into the Clallam County Jail.