A Kennewick real estate agent pleaded innocent Thursday to charges he hid a camera in a bathroom in his own home to take pictures of a girl as she dressed.
Dan Richard Dickey, 66, used the nude photos of the girl and other girls "for the purpose of sexual stimulation," prosecutors allege.
Dickey was president of the Kennewick Police Department Foundation when the allegations surfaced late last year. He recently resigned from the nonprofit organization, which works to supplement the police department's finances by planning fundraisers and accepting public and private community donations.
Chief Ken Hohenberg told the Herald on Thursday that even though Dickey was associated only with department and was not an employee, he was "uncomfortable" with Kennewick detectives investigating the misconduct complaint when it came in.
Hohenberg said he called Benton County Sheriff Steve Keane, and asked if sheriff's detectives could handle the criminal matter and decide if it warranted review by prosecutors.
Dickey, who lives in Kennewick, was charged Jan. 14 in Benton County Superior Court with second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct as well as voyeurism.
His trial is scheduled for March 25.
Attorney John Jensen asked that Dickey, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associated Brokers, be allowed to remain out of custody on his personal recognizance while the case is pending.
Deputy Prosecutor Terry Bloor agreed, but had the court order Dickey to have no contact with the young girl.
According to court documents, Kennewick police received a tip that Dickey may have child pornography on his computer.
Dickey was contacted Nov. 27 by authorities and "cooperated with the investigation," telling detectives "he had installed a camera in a bathroom in his residence and recorded images of (the victim) dressing," documents said.
Police examined Dickey's personal computer and related equipment and allegedly found numerous images showing the victim and other girls, all nude.
Those pictures appear to have been collected in late 2010, but there were images from the camera starting in March 2009 through July 2012, documents said.
Chief Hohenberg said that during Dickey's tenure with KPD foundation, he was "very, very committed to helping raise funds."
The organization includes community members who work to support a safer community by planning events like an annual golf tournament, and taking cash and in-kind contributions on the department's behalf and directing them to the appropriate program.
Hohenberg said the foundation supports the law enforcement agency "because obviously there are never enough tax dollars to go around."
The money it raises goes toward education, supplies and equipment, K-9 dogs and support, and gang prevention resources, in addition to the organization's general fund for other needs.
Dickey was elected president of the group last year.
"I hate to see any cloud over the foundation as a result of that," Hohenberg added.
-- Kristin M. Kraemer: 582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @KristinMKraemer
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.