Herald staff
A Monroe man facing a vehicular homicide charge in connection with a Feb. 8 hit-and-run crash on U.S. 2 that took the life of a Snohomish woman pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Jeffrey Thorne Fraser, 43, pleaded guilty to a single count of third-degree child rape. The sex occurred in May, roughly three months after Fraser allegedly got drunk and was involved in a three-vehicle crash that took the life of June Marie Mathews, 57, according to court papers.
The victim in the car crash was the wife of Lee Mathews, conductor of the Everett Chorale, a community choir based out of Everett Community College, and music director of Everett First Presbyterian Church and its Chancel Choir.
Prosecutors allege Fraser slammed his car into Mathews’ vehicle, knocking it in front of a pickup. The man then allegedly drove away.
Fraser became a suspect within hours when he called police, intoxicated, and reported that he’d been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, the prosecutor said.
Fraser’s license plate later was found impaled on the tailpipe of Mathews’ car, according to court papers.
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