Everett veterinarian won’t fight child rape charge
Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, January 30, 2002
By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
A south Everett veterinarian accused of drugging a 10-year-old girl and then attacking her while she slept has given up his legal fight against a charge of child rape.
Roy Hodges Haralson, 52, of Stanwood Wednesday agreed to a stipulated bench trial, meaning that a judge is likely to find him guilty when his sentencing date comes up April 19.
"It’s the functional equivalent of a guilty plea," deputy prosecutor Chris Dickinson said.
Judge Anita Farris will make her determination of Haralson’s guilt from police reports, Dickinson said.
The development comes after a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office that could result in Haralson spending as little as six months in jail if he successfully completes a therapy program.
The prosecutor will recommend a prison term of nearly 11 years, but agreed to recommend suspension of all but six months under a sentencing alternative allowed for many first-time sex offenders, Dickinson said.
"This is typical for first-time sex offenders who put together a good treatment plan. He’s as deserving of that shot as anybody else," Dickinson said of Haralson.
If he doesn’t complete the treatment or commits another sex crime, he would have to serve the entire sentence.
One of the reasons Haralson chose a trial instead of a guilty plea now is it buys him time before having to go to jail, said his defense lawyer, James Lobsenz of Seattle.
Under the law, a sex offender is immediately hauled off to jail upon conviction. Haralson will need to have a report from a therapist saying he’s a good candidate for treatment in order to qualify for the special sentencing alternative, Lobsenz said.
"Both sides recommended it, so I think (Haralson) stands a good chance" to succeed, Lobsenz said.
Regardless, Haralson will have to register as a sex offender.
Haralson is charged with first-degree rape of a child and possession of child pornography.
Snohomish County detectives served search warrants at Haralson’s home and the business he owns, Silver Lake Veterinary Clinic, to compile evidence against him. The evidence includes a tape-recorded telephone conversation with the girl that was monitored by police in which he apologized for illicitly touching her, court papers say.
According to the documents, he said: "Hey, I don’t know why I did that. I really don’t. You were very pretty and very feminine. And I’m a guy. And those kinda things happen."
At his home, detectives found images apparently downloaded from Internet sites that traffic in child pornography, documents say.
The investigation began in May, and Haralson was arrested in July. He was released on $25,000 bail.
The girl, who was staying overnight at Haralson’s home, told investigators that just before she fell asleep he came into the room and gave her a yellow pill.
She also said she later awoke to find him sexually assaulting her, but "she felt strangely unable to move or speak," documents say. The next morning she found a $20 bill on the bed next to her, according to prosecutors.
The girl’s relatives later confronted Haralson, who then made repeated phone calls to apologize, court papers say.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
