A 46-year-old man faces felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl at Tent City #3, a homeless encampment operated by the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort organization.
Viengsavanh Boutdavong was arrested Friday at the facility located at 2720 South Hanford Street following reports of attempted child luring on September 12. Another resident witnessed Boutdavong allegedly trying to entice the child into his tent and directed her to return to her mother.
The victim and her mother had been residing at the encampment for approximately two weeks when the alleged assault occurred. The child later disclosed to officers that she had been inappropriately touched and experienced physical pain, confirming contact with the suspect’s private areas on multiple occasions.
Seattle Police located Boutdavong in his tent, which matched the child’s description of the location. The victim identified him as her assailant, leading to his immediate arrest. Medical personnel transported the child to Seattle Children’s Hospital for evaluation and forensic examination.
King County prosecutors requested $750,000 bail during Boutdavong’s September 13 court appearance, citing probable cause for Child Molestation in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the First Degree with Sexual Motivation. Officials expect to receive a felony case referral by Wednesday for final charging decisions.
Tent City #3 operates as a “portable, self-managed community” housing up to 100 homeless individuals under SHARE’s oversight. The organization maintains a strict code of conduct requiring “sobriety, nonviolence, cooperation and participation” with 24-hour security coverage.
The incident raises questions about child protection protocols within temporary housing facilities serving vulnerable populations. While such encampments provide essential shelter services, ensuring adequate safeguards for minors presents ongoing challenges for operators and oversight agencies.
Seattle’s approach to managing homeless encampments increasingly involves partnerships with community organizations like SHARE, which operates multiple tent cities throughout the region under agreements with local governments.
The case highlights the complex intersection of homelessness services and child welfare, where families experiencing housing instability may face additional safety risks while seeking basic shelter needs.
Boutdavong remains in King County Jail pending formal charges and further court proceedings. The investigation continues as authorities work to ensure appropriate victim services and community safety measures.
