SEATTLE — A private law firm is now investigating a former Maple Valley day care worker charged with child rape, child molestation, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes earlier this week.
Michael Pfau, an attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC, is representing the family of the two girls in this case. Pfau said he was contacted by the victim's parents and since then, he has been contacted by additional parents.
"We're gonna dig in, we're gonna dig aggressively," Pfau said.
Pfau and his firm specializes in crimes against children and is now investigating Discovery Playtown after one of its employees is facing charges of child molestation and rape of a child.
Joseph Hefner, who also goes by the name Joseph Jones, is accused of abusing two sisters when they were 9 and 12 years old. According to investigators, Hefner became friends with the family when they would drop off their youngest daughter, who is 5 years old, at the day care.
Court documents state the alleged crimes Hefner is charged with did not happen on day care premises.
The firm is asking for witnesses as its investigation is underway.
"This becomes extremely alarming because you have to question how a day care hired someone who had been convicted of a sex crime against children and was a registered sex offender previously," Pfau said.
Court documents revealed Hefner was convicted of child molestation when he was a teenager and had to register as a sex offender from 2013 to 2021. In a statement earlier this week, the day care owner said Hefner's criminal past never showed up on a background check and had no reason to believe he was unsuitable for employment.
"The big issue is, did the institution did the day care know? Or should they have known that children were at risk? And that's the, that's the heart of the civil case," Pfau said.
Pfau said when it comes to juveniles, convictions can be sealed, and Hefner likely had to register as a sex offender for only eight years because he was under 18.
A state law that took effect last year makes that timeframe even less. Juvenile offenders of some sex crimes are required to register for only three years after they are released.
When ESHB 1394 passed, lawmakers said research showed rehabilitation is the best path to reduce recidivism and cited an association between requiring youth registration and mental health struggles and said registration might cause the offender to become the target of sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, in Hefner's case, Pfau wants to make sure that doesn't happen again.
"Anyone who is alone with a child or has the ability to be alone with a child needs to be vetted, and their background needs to be vetted. There are lots of questions and there will be answers," Pfau said.
In a statement earlier this week, the day care owner said they are dedicated to the safety of children in their care.
Pfau said they're also investigating the day care director who was fired around the same time as Hefner and if there have been any previous reports filed against him.
KING 5 reached back out to the day care owner and is waiting to hear back.