Alleged Rape Victim's Mom Speaks Out About Her Daughter's Treatment

The mother of an alleged 15-year-old rape victim in Enumclaw says her daughter is doing much better after going through a wilderness treatment program with a group out of Aspen, Colo., called SUWS.

“She came back our daughter again,” said her mother, whom we
call “Arletta” because Patch does not name rape victims or do anything to help identify one.

Samuel Shane Alvidrez, 49, is charged with two counts of third-degree rape of a child in the case. He is the owner of the Enumclaw School of Martial Arts at 1362 Cole St. Alvidrez also owns a restaurant and has a home construction remodeling business.

According to charging documents from the King County Prosecutor’s Office, Alvidrez had sexual relations with a female student between March 1, 2010, and June 30, 2010, at his residence and at the martial arts studio, where he is also an instructor.

In a statement of probable cause, Enumclaw Police Lt. Eric Sortland wrote that the sexual activity between Alvidrez and his teen student continued into 2011. Alvidrez denied having any type of sexual relationship with the girl, Sortland wrote. Sortland also interviewed a potential witness who said that Alvidrez had inappropriate sexual contact with her when she was a teen between 2001 and 2002. He has not been charged in that incident.

“Other witness accounts indicate that the defendant has been inappropriate with other girls around the same age,” prosecutors wrote in seeking $100,000 bail, adding that Alvidrez should not be allowed to have a position with authority over any minors.

Alvidrez’s attorney, Richard Warner, did not return a phone call for comment.

Alvidrez's trial is set for Oct. 3. Arletta said the family is glad the trial is going to happen sooner rather than later.

As for the victim’s treatment, the SUWS web site says that since 1981 its Adolescent and Youth Programs has specialized in helping troubled and defiant teens to overcome behavioral and emotional problems. SUWS programs help young people to identify and work through internal conflicts and emotional obstacles that have kept them from responding to parental efforts, schools and treatment. SUWS accepts boys and girls ages 11 to 17 and offers a 28-day minimum program.

“It was the best thing for her. They de-programmed her. It was intense,” Arletta said. “Before she harbored so much guilt and frustration. We’re Christian, and she didn’t think God would forgive her.”

Arletta said her daughter started going to the martial arts studio
when she was 14 in 2009. She wanted to like herself more so she started competing and taking golds in competitions.

“Six months later all she could do is talk about him. Things got weird,” her mom said.

Then in January of 2010, “we started to go through hell and
back,” she said. “All of a sudden she didn’t want to be with us.”

The mother said her daughter was looking for acceptance, just like many teens. “She did it and felt grown up. He whispered that she’s
beautiful.”

After the alleged sexual abuse went on for six months, Arletta said the abuser called it off, and her daughter contemplated suicide. That’s when they went to police. Arletta said her daughter wanted to go to
police so that others won’t become victims.

The mom said her family has no intention of leaving town. Unlike in some similar situations, she said her family has not been harassed, even though when she’s told others in the martial arts studio of what happened they didn't believe her.

“This is our town, not his,” she said.