Arthur D. Curtis Children's Justice Center

08/05/2026

Well done Detective James Phelps!

1,000 investigations. Countless children and families impacted.

Special Victims Unit Detective James Phelps, who is assigned to the Arthur D. Curtis Children's Justice Center, recently reached an extraordinary career milestone: his 1,000th investigation.

For the past 15 years, he's investigated reports of suspected felony-level child abuse, helping protect children and support families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

"Every day, there is a child somewhere being abused who doesn't have a voice and doesn't have anyone to help them. That was true 15 years ago, and it's true today."

The work has been both challenging and rewarding. The cases Detective Phelps investigates affect children and families in profound ways, and while it's heartbreaking that so many require intervention, he says knowing he's been able to make a positive difference for families is what makes the work meaningful.

Over the years, technology has transformed investigations, but Detective Phelps believes one thing has never changed: communication.

"Our cases often have very little physical evidence. Interviewing people, asking open-ended questions, and getting detailed information are still the foundation of what we do."

In addition to his work investigating child abuse cases, Detective Phelps has served as the Clark County Sheriff's Office polygrapher since 2013, conducting more than 460 polygraph examinations in support of investigations across our agency.

As he looks toward retirement in the future, he's focused on mentoring the next generation of Special Victims Unit detectives—passing along the knowledge and experience that mentors and fellow detectives shared with him throughout his career.

Incredible work, Detective Phelps. Thank you for your compassion, professionalism, and commitment to helping children and families when they need it most. 👏

07/30/2026

Thank you for your support Windermere Northwest Living for Children’s Justice Center! The Pickleball for a Purpose event raised $5,581.60. We continue to be amazed and deeply appreciative of your support for this community.

Windermere Northwest Living is hosting their first community pickleball tournament benefiting the Children’s Justice Center on June 26th at 4:00 PM at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, with a reception to follow.

07/01/2026

"This investigation highlights the dangers of teens communicating with strangers online. The Vancouver Police Department urges parents to monitor their children's social media activity and speak candidly with them about the dangers of online s*xual exploitation and solicitation."

On June 24, 2026, Vancouver Police received information that multiple juveniles were staying at a hotel with an adult male, later identified as Andrew Guerrero, 20, who was reportedly having s*x with teen girls at the hotel. Vancouver Police officers responded and located three juvenile males and two juvenile females inside the room. The females were identified as being 13 and 16 years old. The room where the girls were staying was registered to Guerrero, who was identified as an active-duty U.S. military member temporarily working in Portland, Oregon.

Through the course of the investigation, VPD officers and VPD Children's Justice Center (CJC) detectives learned that Guerrero met the teen victims about a month earlier through social media. After communicating via social media, Guerrero met with the victims in person and began spending time with them. This eventually led to Guerrero allowing the teenagers to stay with him in his hotel room. Guerrero developed a relationship with the girls and began s*xually exploiting them. Detectives also learned that Guerrero had recorded s*xual acts involving the girls using social media apps and had provided them with alcohol.

Guerrero was arrested and charged with six counts of R**e of a Child in the Second Degree and two counts of Trafficking in the First Degree.

Both teen girls were placed into protective custody.

This investigation highlights the dangers of teens communicating with strangers online. The Vancouver Police Department urges parents to monitor their children's social media activity and speak candidly with them about the dangers of online s*xual exploitation and solicitation.

The investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is being released at this time.

07/01/2026

06/26/2026

Thank you, Kevin Villines, and to all who joined in this heartfelt act of generosity. In honor of Marci West, Battalion Chief Kevin Villines requested that donations for his retirement celebration be made to the Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center. We’re pretty sure that helmet has seen some miles—and what a meaningful way to mark its final run. Your generous contribution of $4,231 will make a lasting impact by helping victims of child abuse and their caregivers move forward with hope and support. Camas-Washougal Fire Department

05/14/2026

From our partners at Vancouver Police Department

05/12/2026

On May 11, 2026, Detectives from the Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit (DECU) and the Children’s Justice Center (CJC) arrested another individual associated with the ongoing child molestation investigation.

Anna May Hartley was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Jail for Child Molestation I and Trafficking I.

Nothing additional is being released at this time.

05/09/2026

The ongoing child molestation investigation involving former pediatrician Michael Wilmington, who was found deceased last Saturday, and Chad Hartley, who remains incarcerated in the Clark County Jail, is continuing.

Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit (DECU) and Children’s Justice Center have been working diligently to forensically examine digital evidence related to this case. This work would not be possible without the assistance of VPD Digital Forensic Investigators.

On May 7, 2026, Detectives from DECU served a search warrant at a Vancouver residence and arrested William J. Sneiderwine, 61, for Conspiracy to Commit Child Molestation I and Tampering with Physical Evidence. Sneiderwine was booked into the Clark County Jail.

The investigation is continuing and nothing further is releasable at this time.

05/09/2026

Police believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information related to possible child abuse involving Darold Slack who has not spoken with police is asked to contact Vancouver Police Department Children’s Justice Center Detective Cpl. Gunnar Skollingsberg at [email protected].

On April 27, 2026, detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Children’s Justice Center began investigating a report of a s*xual assault involving a child.

On May 1, 2026, Vancouver Police executed a search warrant at the residence of Darold A. Slack. Investigators learned Slack had been a foster parent to approximately 55 children in Vancouver between 2013 and 2025.

Slack was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail on numerous charges, including five counts of second-degree child molestation, three counts of second-degree r**e of a child, third-degree r**e, two counts of fourth-degree assault, two counts of s*xual misconduct with a minor, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Police believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information related to possible child abuse involving Darold Slack who has not spoken with police is asked to contact Vancouver Police Department Children’s Justice Center Detective Cpl. Gunnar Skollingsberg at [email protected].

This investigation is continuing, and no additional information is being released at this time.

05/07/2026

Detectives are asking anyone who is aware of a child who may have had unsupervised contact with Chad Hartley or Michael Wilmington to contact the local law enforcement agency for their jurisdiction.

In February 2026, Vancouver Police opened an investigation after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child s*x abuse material involving a Vancouver IP address.

On April 29, 2026, investigators identified a suspect in this case, Chad Hartley. Detectives from the Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit (DECU) and the Children’s Justice Center (CJC) located Hartley during a pedestrian stop, took him into custody, and subsequently served a search warrant at his Vancouver residence. Hartley was booked into the Clark County Jail for dealing in child po*******hy II (four counts), possession of child po*******hy (four counts), and child molestation I.

The investigation also revealed that Hartley was associated with Michael R. Wilmington, who is a local pediatrician affiliated with multiple medical facilities in the Portland/Vancouver area. Wilmington allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center, Washington, residence.

On April 30, 2026, a search warrant was served at Wilmington’s residence. Numerous items of evidence were seized.

On May 1, 2026, additional information was obtained by detectives regarding Wilmington molesting a child at his home. A felony warrant for child molestation I was issued for Wilmington.

On May 2, 2026, Vancouver Police were notified that Wilmington was found deceased in Lewis County from an apparent su***de. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the death investigation.

The investigation by the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who is aware of a child who may have had unsupervised contact with Chad Hartley or Michael Wilmington to contact the local law enforcement agency for their jurisdiction.

No additional information is being released at this time.