KINGMAN – A man accused of sex offenses involving his underage stepdaughter at separate homes in Kingman a few years ago was fully acquitted at trial in Mohave County Superior Court. The jury deliberated less than an hour Thursday before returning not guilty verdicts in the case against Wallace Soltz, 37.
Soltz was charged with a total of seven counts of child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor. The alleged victim, now 13, testified that Soltz would molest her while her mother was working over a two-year period ending in December, 2017.
“It felt really uncomfortable,” the girl told the jury, saying she was threatened by the defendant. “He was like ‘don’t tell anybody, this will be our little secret'”.
Defense attorney Robin Puchek said the alleged victim and her mother were out to get even with Soltz following a contentious divorce and child custody battle. “We submit to you that that is what is going on in this case, fabricated allegations,” Puchek said.
- Dave Hawkins
