Trial nears for Boulder Creek couple

A Boulder Creek couple arrested on charges connected to the molestation of a child in their care appeared in court this week for a preliminary hearing.
The couple’s arraignment is set for April 19.
Ronald Eugene McDougal, 55, was arrested in January on suspicion that he molested a young girl who lived with him and his wife. He faces more than 20 crimes related to suspected abuse of the child. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Jan. 7.
The charges stem from an alleged series of lewd acts over a period of several months, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. McDougal could be sent to prison for more than 50 years if he were convicted.
His wife, Faith McDougal, 57, was arrested on suspicion of dissuading the girl from reporting the suspected abuse. She is accused of felony counts of witness intimidation and child endangerment and faces up to seven years in prison.
She is not charged with any sexually based offenses.
According to the district attorney’s office, Faith McDougal learned of the molestation by reading the girl’s journal and then urged the child to burn the journal to keep the crimes a secret.
McDougal ended up destroying the journal herself, according to the district attorney.
The reported crimes surfaced in early January when the child told a teacher at school about the abuse. The child also reportedly told a friend, and the friend’s mother contacted authorities.
Police declined to reveal the age of the girl or her exact relation to the McDougals, but police did say the child is a relative.
The couple is held in Santa Cruz County Jail. Ronald McDougal’s bail is set at $100,000, while Faith McDougal’s is $30,000.