SNOHOMISH — A man Thursday pleaded guilty to a sexual assault on a Snohomish neighbor, who was highly intoxicated, passed out and was considered a vulnerable person.
Earl Franklin Bogart Jr., 47, likely will serve five years in prison after the plea to a third-degree rape charge.
The plea came during Bogart’s trial on a more serious charge of second-degree rape. He and defense attorney Mark Mestel of Everett told Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry that Bogart wanted to avoid the risk of a more serious penalty.
If he had been convicted of second-degree rape, Bogart would have been subject to an indefinite prison term and conceivably could have been jailed for life.
Deputy prosecutor Cindy Larson alleged aggravating circumstances, saying that the 21-year-old victim was so intoxicated that she was a vulnerable person. Bogart agreed to accept the aggravating factor and a five-year prison term as part of his plea.
Castleberry scheduled sentencing for March 6.
Mill Creek: Suspects elude dog, helicopter
Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies used a helicopter and a police dog to search for burglary suspects Wednesday night.
The burglars weren’t found, and the case has been assigned to detectives, sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
Deputies were called to a home in the 4600 block of 120th Place SE to investigate a burglary in progress. Deputies canvassed the neighborhood and the sheriff’s helicopter circled the area.
“We know people want us to put all of our efforts into catching these people,” Hover said.
If people see the helicopter circling an area, they are asked to report any suspicious activity immediately. The information could help deputies catch up with the crooks.
From Herald staff reports
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