A man facing felonies in three rape cases pleaded not guilty to all of his charges on Monday, Oct. 15 in San Juan County Superior Court. Two cases involved minors and his trial is scheduled for Dec. 11.

In one case, Sean Michael Hunter, 24, was charged with one count of rape in the third degree. In another case, he was charged with one count of rape of a child in the second degree and one count of rape in the second degree for the victim being “incapable of consent by … being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated.” In the third case, he was charged three counts of rape of a child in the third degree. 

Bail remains at $250,000 in one case and $100,000 in each of the other two cases. Hunter, also known as Sunshine and Sean Marley, was picked up on Sept. 28 in Medford, Oregon, after leaving the San Juans. A $100,000 arrest warrant was issued for him on Friday, Sept. 21 for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old. Hunter, who is homeless, has been seen in Sunken Park in Friday Harbor and Moran State Park on Orcas.

On Sept. 13, a woman told a San Juan County Sheriff’s deputy that Hunter sexually assaulted her, the day before, at Sunken Park. The victim said she initially tried to stop him, but when he became physically aggressive, she told the deputy that she was in shock and too frightened to speak.

On Sept. 16, another victim, who was 12 years old at the time of the alleged crime, told police Hunter sexually assaulted her in August. She said Hunter gave her alcohol and marijuana and pressured her to drink more than she wanted in his tent near the Port of Friday Harbor’s upper parking lot. According to the detective’s report, the victim “gave into Hunter’s advances, as she was unable to get up and leave due to her high level of intoxication,” and the two had sexual intercourse.

On Sept. 17, the victim from the third case reported to police that Hunter sexually assaulted her. She was 14, when, on Sept. 12, Hunter gave her beer and hard alcohol, then “held [her] down …. and made [her] have sex with him,” according to court documents. Hunter assaulted her the next night, as well, though the police report states “she told Hunter to stop ‘multiple times.’” The following morning, they took a ferry to Anacortes, where another assault occurred at a hotel. Both minors told police Hunter knew their age before the alleged crimes occurred.