Suspect Arrested for Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Child
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Unit (SAU) Detective Rob Satake, investigating information regarding a sexual assault obtained from the Post Falls Police Department, arrested 39-year-old Jeffrey A. Christenot, charging him with two counts of Rape of a Child 2nd Degree and one count of Attempted Rape 2nd Degree.
In late September 2018, SAU Detectives received information from the Post Falls Police Department regarding a sexual assault, which reportedly occurred in Spokane County. The information named Christenot as a suspect in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old female victim in 2015-2016 and he confessed to the crimes in a video, which was posted on Facebook. Christenot was known to the victim’s family and was considered a family friend.
Detective Satake began investigating the allegations, watched the Facebook video and read Post Falls Police Department reports, where Christenot admitted to sexually assaulting the victim, prior to arranging an interview with the victim and her parents. During the interview, the victim described what occurred during the sexual assaults. She stated the incidents happened several times in 2015 and into the first part of 2016 when Christenot was alone with her or could conceal his actions.
On October 15, 2018, just after 7:00 a.m., Detective Satake contacted Christenot in the parking lot of his apartment located in the 16100 block of E. Broadway in Spokane Valley. Christenot said he knew why he was being contacted and had been expecting it. He agreed to submit to an interview with Detective Satake at the Public Safety Building.
Christenot was advised of his rights at the beginning of the interview and agreed to answer questions. During the interview, Christenot admitted to the inappropriate touching/assaults of the victim, which began when she was 12-years-old and he was 36-years-old. He said the victim started the inappropriate behavior and seduced him, although he knew it was wrong and he shouldn’t have done it.
At the conclusion of the interview, Christenot was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for two counts of Rape of a Child 2nd Degree and one count of Attempted Rape 2nd Degree.