Bothell man sentenced for sexual abuse of girl
Published 10:53 pm Monday, January 14, 2008
EVERETT — A Bothell-area man who was convicted of five sex crimes with a child was sentenced Monday to more than 23 years in prison.
Zahid Aziz Khan, 35, a Pakistani national, was convicted of child rape and child molestation Nov. 29 by a jury, which deliberated about two hours.
Khan was convicted despite his denials of any improprieties with a girl.
Deputy prosecutor Cindy Larsen, however, alleged that the girl was abused over several years. The first abuse happened in 2004 when she was 11, according to charging papers. The girl’s mother discovered Khan standing over the girl in July, when she was 14. The victim eventually was sent to live with a relative in California.
The girl told Snohomish County sheriff’s investigators that at one time she used to put boxes in front of her door to keep Khan from coming into her room. She also would invite siblings to sleep in her room to deter Khan, she told authorities.
The girl’s mother and aunt heard the girl scream in July and discovered Khan with the victim. The girl told investigators she felt safe screaming then because there were several family members in the home at the time.
Larsen asked Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Cowsert to sentence Khan to the high end of the sentencing range, 23 years. She told Cowsert that Khan has showed no remorse.
Defense lawyer Lennard Nahajski argued that it would be impossible for Khan to profess his innocence and at the same time show remorse for crimes he says he didn’t commit. He asked the judge for the low end of the range, about 18 years.
Cowsert told Khan that he listened to testimony and believes that the girl underwent “months and years of abuse” at Khan’s hand.
The 23 years is a minimum sentence. A state panel will examine Khan’s case toward the end of the sentence to decide if he is a danger to the community. The panel has the power to hold him behind bars indefinitely.
Khan also is subject to deportation when he completes his prison term.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.
