(Warning: The following story contains explicit details about sexual violence.)
An Orcas teen who pleaded guilty to rape of a child has been sentenced.
David S. Pacasum, 19, was sentenced to 54 months imprisonment with 69 months suspended because of Washington’s Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative and he must undergo sex offender treatment for up to five years.
In Washington state’s laws lies a sentence of treatment for sex offenders — the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative. This option may be granted in lieu of a prison sentence under certain conditions. It requires some jail time in conjunction with outpatient treatment and supervision.
According to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, offenders who receive alternative sentencing have lower violent felony and felony sex crime recidivism rates.
According to the probable cause statement, an Orcas deputy took a report on Nov. 18 that Pacasum, who had turned 18 in September 2019, reportedly had sexually assaulted a female child on several occasions, the most recent being Nov. 17, 2019. He was charged with three counts of rape of a child in the first degree and one count of child molestation in the first degree in the San Juan County Superior Court on Nov. 19, 2019.
After initially denying the claims, the probable cause statement said that Pacasum allegedly admitted guilt. As part of a plea deal, two of the rape charges and the molestation charge were dropped.
The first assault occurred in June 2019, according to court documents. Pacasum allegedly touched the victim’s genitals. The child reportedly told police that Pacasum only stopped when she pinched him.
The probable cause statement stated that he allegedly admitted to touching the victim in the way she told deputies. Pacasum said it once occurred in exchange for playing a board game.
According to the probable cause statement, the victim explained that in August 2019, Pacasum allegedly raped her in a tent and only ceased his actions when someone else approached. That same month, Pacasum reportedly raped her once again in a tent, court documents said, and then during another time in August.
The final incident reportedly occurred on Nov. 17. According to the probable cause statement, Pacasum allegedly told the victim that he would tell her parents that she had damaged their property if she did not allow him to touch her. Pacasum then reportedly raped the victim. According to the probable cause statement, Pacasum allegedly admitted to this incident as well and explained that he had threatened the victim until she let him touch her.
If you or someone you know is being sexually abused, there is help available.
Locally, SAFE San Juans has 24/7 phone lines available to call on San Juan at 360-378-2345; Orcas at 360-376-1234; or Lopez at 360-468-4567. For more information, visit https://safesj.org/.
Nationally, you can call the RAINN hotline, which is open 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673. For more information, visit https://www.rainn.org/.
To make a police report, call the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at 360-378-4151.
