Former Border Patrol chief could get one year in jail, three years treatment, for child rape

Joseph Giuliano, the former deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol's Northwest region, will be sentenced June 23 after pleading guilty to charges of child rape. On April 23, Giuliano, 55, pleaded guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court to three counts of child rape and, according to the Bellingham Herald, will likely be sentenced to one year in jail, on work release, and three years of sexual-deviancy treatment.

By Scott Rasmussen • May 1, 2009 12:30 pm

Joseph Giuliano, the former deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Northwest region, will be sentenced June 23 after pleading guilty to charges of child rape.

On April 23, Giuliano, 55, pleaded guilty in Whatcom County Superior Court to three counts of child rape and, according to the Bellingham Herald, will likely be sentenced to one year in jail, on work release, and three years of sexual-deviancy treatment.

That’s the recommended sentence submitted to the court by prosecutors in Whatcom County, according to the Herald.

Judges are not bound by sentencing recommendations and Giuliano faces up to five years in prison on each count of child rape, a felony; however, the standard range of sentencing set by the state is 46-61 months in prison.

As second in command of the Border Patrol’s Blaine sector, Giuliano was in charge of protecting U.S. borders in western Washington, Oregon and Alaska at the time of his arrest in October. At that time, he admitted to detectives that he had had sex at least 24 times with a 14-year-old girl who moved into his home earlier that year after her parents separated.

Six months prior to his arrest, Giuliano appeared in Friday Harbor and in Eastsound, at the invitation of the San Juan County Council, to answer questions about and explain the reasoning behind the citizenship spot-checks conducted by the Border Patrol at the Anacortes ferry terminal. As many as two dozen passengers on domestic-only sailings have been detained on immigration violations since the spot checks were initiated early last year. Many were taken into custody and face deportation.

According to the Herald, Whatcom County prosecutor Mac Setter said the girl remains emotionally attached to Giuliano. She is now living with her parents and supports the recommended sentence. Setter expects her feelings about Giuliano will change sometime in the near future.

Giuliano remains free on $50,000 bail, pending sentencing. Regardless of the length of incarceration, he will be required as part of the sentence to register as a sex offender.