PCVA is alerting Washington and Oregon residents and patients in the Portland-Vancouver area about reported misconduct by former Dr. Michael R. Wilmington, a Vancouver-based pediatrician, who is currently under investigation by the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office for alleged child molestation. This includes allegations that Wilmington hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center, Washington residence.
If you or someone you know has experienced inappropriate touching or molestation by Dr. Wilmington, or you have relevant information, our attorneys are here to listen and support you. Learn more about our work supporting medical misconduct and sexual misconduct survivors, or schedule a free, confidential consultation by completing our online form or by calling us at (206) 462-4334.
Below is an overview of the allegations, followed by frequently asked questions.
What are the allegations against Dr. Wilmington?
In April 2026, acting on a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Vancouver police arrested an associate of Dr. Wilmington and booked him for second-degree dealing in child pornography (four counts), possession of child pornography (four counts) and first-degree child molestation I. On April 30, Vancouver police served a search warrant at Dr. Wilmington’s residence. Numerous items of evidence were seized, according to police.
On May 1, Vancouver police received additional information about Dr. Wilmington molesting a child at his home. Vancouver police also allege that Dr. Wilmington hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his home in La Center, Washington. A felony warrant for child molestation was issued for Dr. Wilmington.
Where and When did Dr. Wilmington practice?
Dr. Michael R. Wilmington has been practicing for over 35 years and was most recently based in Vancouver, WA, working through Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center at 2211 NE 139 St Vancouver, WA 98686. He is affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Peacehealth Southwest Medical Center, and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.
Doctor Sexual Abuse Cases Often Follow a Pattern
What are the latest developments in the Dr. Wilmington case?
This page is updated as new information becomes available. The most recent updates appear first.
- May 7, 2026 — KPTV: Chad Hartley now faces child trafficking charges in addition to his earlier counts, after investigators alleged he brought a child to Dr. Wilmington’s home for weekly nude sleepovers. Hartley’s bail was set at $800,000. Vancouver police confirmed the investigation remains active and ongoing. Read more.
- May 6, 2026 — KGW: A judge increased Hartley’s bail to $800,000 at a Tuesday court appearance where he was formally charged with first-degree trafficking. Court documents allege Hartley arranged for a young girl to be left alone with Dr. Wilmington at his La Center home. Read more.
- May 6, 2026 — KOIN: Court documents revealed new details about the relationship between Hartley and Dr. Wilmington, including that the two met through the nudist community. Investigators found a large number of nude images of children inside Dr. Wilmington’s home. The Washington Department of Health confirmed it had not received prior complaints about either man but has since opened a complaint into Hartley. Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — KATU: Multiple individuals have contacted PCVA Law alleging sexual abuse connected to Dr. Wilmington’s medical practice. Kaiser Permanente confirmed it has begun notifying current and former patients. PCVA partner Mallory Allen stated: “This is often the moment when other survivors begin to come forward. Given that Dr. Wilmington practiced as a pediatrician for many years, and was a trusted member of the community, there may be dozens, if not hundreds, of victims.” Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — The Columbian: PCVA Law was interviewed, confirming that multiple individuals connected to Dr. Wilmington’s practice had contacted the firm. Mallory Allen stated: “Even when an individual can no longer be prosecuted, there are important questions about what the institutions who employed him knew, how concerns were handled and whether these institutions failed to protect victims at their most vulnerable.” Kaiser confirmed it terminated Dr. Wilmington’s employment and privileges on April 30. Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — The Daily Chronicle: Coverage of PCVA Law’s announcement that multiple survivors had come forward, along with a full timeline of the investigation. Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — The Lund Report: Reported that three of Dr. Wilmington’s former patients had contacted PCVA Law about potential civil lawsuits. Mallory Allen told The Lund Report: “We’re investigating. Sadly, it seems like many people were affected over his 30-year career as a pediatrician.” Also covered Kaiser and PeaceHealth’s responses to the investigation. Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — KGW: Kaiser Permanente confirmed Dr. Wilmington was a physician at their Salmon Creek Medical Office. Both Legacy Health and PeaceHealth confirmed Dr. Wilmington was never employed by their organizations. PeaceHealth confirmed Chad Hartley was immediately terminated following his arrest. Read more.
- May 5, 2026 — KPTV: Initial news report covering the investigation, Dr. Wilmington’s death, and the charges against Chad Hartley. Kaiser Permanente issued a statement confirming it terminated Dr. Wilmington’s employment on April 30. Read more.
- May 4, 2026 — The Columbian: First major local report on Dr. Wilmington’s death, confirming the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and that Vancouver police and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office are continuing their broader investigation. Read more.
How can sexual abuse impact its victims?
Even if there is no outward injury to the body, sexual abuse – especially sexual abuse in a vulnerable medical setting — can have serious psychological effects.
The effects of sexual violence can include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Panic attacks
- Substance abuse
- Disordered sleep
- Sexual dysfunction
These are serious issues that can harm a person’s ability to work, study, maintain relationships, and enjoy their lives. Treatment for sexual abuse-related damage can take a long time and become very expensive.
What is the current statute of limitations for sex abuse in Washington State?
In certain circumstances, survivors in Washington can file lawsuits decades after the abuse ended. If you have any questions about the statute of limitations for your potential case, please contact us directly.
Can I come forward or sue anonymously if I’m worried about my privacy?
Most likely. The law usually allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse using a pseudonym, like “John Doe” or “Jane Doe,” or a person’s initials. It also may be possible to resolve your case privately without filing a lawsuit or going to court.
How can survivors receive damages for sexual abuse?
Our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complicated and concerning sexual abuse cases in the country, and we are often consulted by other law firms for guidance and expertise when representing abuse survivors. We take a trauma-informed approach to our representation that acknowledges the sensitive nature of each person’s case.
Every case is different and results – which depend on the facts of the case – cannot be guaranteed. However, we will fight to hold negligent institutions and individuals accountable. Through our efforts, we have helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of abuse survivors. We have represented hundreds of victims of medical sexual abuse against some of the largest and most prestigious medical institutions in the country, including patients abuse by an ob-gyn, like Dr. Mulholland. While no amount of monetary compensation can erase the trauma, the financial assistance can help pay for necessary expenses to allow the healing process to begin.
How much do you charge?
Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis, and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive, and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.
Our case results
PCVA has a lengthy history of pursuing damages from institutions that employed individuals who abused their positions of authority to sexually abuse children and adults, including major medical institutions, hospitals, school districts, religious organizations, and more. See below for more information about our case results involving such entities:
- $25M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case Against the State of New Jersey
- $15M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Cases Against the State of Washington
- $12.125M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Cases Against the Archdiocese of Seattle
- $9.5M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Cases Against University Place School District
- $9.15M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Cases Against the Archdiocese of Seattle
- $8M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case Against a Catholic religious order
- $7.5M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case Against YMCA
- $6.975M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Cases Against the Archdiocese of Seattle
- $6.75M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against the State of New Jersey
- $4.232M Jury Verdict in Sexual Abuse Cases Against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- $3.9M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against Tahoma School District
- $3M Settlement in Sexual Abuse Case Against Seattle Public Schools