Johnny Ben Guthrie, 41, of Friday Harbor has been charged with child molestation in the first degree and incest in the second degree.

His arraignment is set for Friday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. His bail is set at $100,000.

On Jan. 5, a woman reported that a young child had been molested by Guthrie. One incident occurred on the mainland and two incidents happened in Friday Harbor. The child and Guthrie are related to one another.

The reporting party told the detective on the case that when she confronted Guthrie, he allegedly responded that he was “fearful of the day this information would be revealed.”

According to the detective’s report, Guthrie told the woman that when he molested the child he was “methed out” and “she [the child] was curious and he helped her explore her curiosities.”

After receiving this report, the child was interviewed by a forensic specialist in Mt. Vernon, Washington. During the interview, the child corroborated the woman’s report about the above incidents.

On Jan. 13, the detective interviewed Guthrie outside of his Friday Harbor home. Guthrie allegedly told the detective that “some of the allegations were true.” He added that not everything that had been alleged was true.

The detective recorded that Guthrie said, “I will pay my price for that” and “it shouldn’t have happened.”

According to the detective’s report, Guthrie admitted to inappropriately touching the child.

When asked by the detective if the child had come to him when having bad dreams, Guthrie said he thought the child had used it as an excuse to be with him. He allegedly told the detective he was ashamed over what he had done.

Guthrie’s criminal record includes burglary and theft.