Centralia man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material

A Centralia man with a well-documented history of volunteering in local youth events has been accused of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Richard C. Conklin, 67, is charged with two counts of first-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, both punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Conklin was arrested Thursday following an investigation by the Centralia Police Department. He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday.

During the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Brandi Archer requested bail of $100,000, along with release conditions that prohibit Conklin from frequenting any locations where minor children are known to congregate. Archer asked that the conditions also prohibit Conklin from having any direct or indirect contact with minor children.

Archer noted the longtime access Conklin has had to children in the community, citing coverage from The Chronicle that showed Conklin as "highly involved" in local events such as the Spring Youth Fair and National Night Out.

In 2025, officials with the Spring Youth Fair presented Conklin with the Lee Coumbs Opportunity Seized Award, given in honor of the former Centralia mayor and fair co-founder.

Coumbs died in 2024.

Archer asked that Conklin not be allowed to participate in any of those events while the case is pending.

Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for bail of no more than $20,000, noting that Conklin had no criminal history. Tiller said Conklin had no issue regarding the condition that he not be allowed in places where children congregate.

Judge J. Andrew Toynbee granted Archer's request for bail of $100,000 cash or bond, along with her specified conditions of release.

According to a probable cause affidavit, detectives began investigating Conklin on May 26 after an employee at Comp-Prime Computers notified police of a ZIP file labeled "Child Porn Videos."

The files had reportedly been found on Conklin's computer after he dropped it off for repair.

When speaking to a detective, Conklin allegedly "denied intentionally having such content," according to the affidavit.

Conklin then met with the detective at the Centralia Police Department.

According to the affidavit, Conklin allegedly said "he'd been having technical issues with the computer, leading him to believe the computer had been compromised."

During the meeting, Conklin allegedly "admitted to viewing adult websites, and when questioned about the presence of child pornography, he stated that such content would 'pop up' while browsing adult websites," the affidavit said.

Conklin allegedly denied saving or "intentionally downloading such files."

The detective reportedly viewed some of the files. According to the affidavit, the ZIP file "appeared to possibly have over 500 files in it."

Conklin "ultimately admitted to looking at child pornography over several years, and (said) he has looked at it in the last month," the affidavit said.

Conklin is scheduled for an arraignment on June 11. Public defender Albert Didcock will represent Conklin for future hearings.

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