PORT ANGELES — A 65-year-old Sequim man who pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree child rape could face nearly eight years in prison.
Bret William Ross had admitted to authorities that he assaulted a boy younger than 12, according to a probable cause statement.
He had a charge of first-degree incest with special allegations dropped Monday in exchange for his guilty plea.
Ross, who does not have a criminal history, will be sentenced April 21, Clallam County Superior Court judge Brent Basden decided.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Roberson recommended a sentence of 93 months based on a standard sentence range of 93 months, or 7 3/4 years, to 123 months, or 10 1/4 years.
“That way we could spare the victim’s mom and dad from having to testify,” Roberson said after the hearing.
Roberson and lawyer John Hayden of Clallam Public Defender, representing Ross, said they agreed on the 93-month sentence.
The victim was listed as a witness in a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday.
Ross agreed to plead guilty Thursday during a hearing at which Basden was scheduled to hear arguments on not having the child testify in person.
Basden was to rule on allowing instead the child’s statements to his parents, and to Sheriff’s Detective Brandon Stoppani, which the boy made in a child forensic interview.
The sexual assault occurred Nov. 15.
The original rape and incest charges each carried special allegations of Ross using his position of trust to assault the child and that Ross knew or should have known the boy was a vulnerable victim or incapable of resisting.
In a recorded interview following the assault, Ross said he was addicted to pornography, according to the probable cause statement.
Ross said he spent 5 seconds destroying his family.
“Five seconds I wish I could take back,” he said.
“I, I fulfilled a fantasy I thought. And it’s like suicide.”
Ross will be sentenced following a pre-sentence investigation.
The maximum penalty for first-degree rape of a child is life in prison.
The recommended sentence includes lifetime community custody.
He had been out of jail since Jan. 11 on $25,000 bail.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
