Nicholas Hargrave, a 31-year-old former soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, has been arrested in Texas for a 2013 child sexual assault case involving a six-year-old girl at a Dollar Tree in Kent, Washington. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree child molestation. The assault occurred on May 19, 2013, when a man approached the girl while her mother was at the register and fled before police arrived. The case remained cold until August 2024, when DNA evidence linked Hargrave to the crime scene. His recent conviction for a child-related offense in Texas required him to submit his DNA, facilitating this identification.

In court, a legal advocate for the victim's family argued against bail, citing Hargrave's criminal history and the potential danger he posed to children. Meanwhile, the defense claimed he had changed and emphasized his role as the sole provider for his family. The judge set his bail at $100,000 and ordered him to remain in the state if he posts bail, while the prosecution highlighted his status as a registered sex offender and previous convictions.