By Scott North
Herald Writer
A Snohomish County veterinarian accused of drugging and raping a 10-year-old girl won’t have a date with justice until May 7.
Roy Hodges Haralson, 52, of Stanwood, was scheduled for a court hearing Friday, where he was expected to learn from a judge what crime he should be convicted of and what type of punishment he’ll face.
Instead, the hearing ended before it began Friday after Haralson’s attorney objected to information about the case that had been presented to Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anita Farris.
The judge said she was already aware of that information by reading other parts of the case file, but out of an abundance of caution, she opted to remove herself from the case.
Judge Larry McKeeman is now in charge.
Haralson, who owns Silver Lake Veterinary Clinic, was arrested in July and charged in August with one count each of child rape and possession of child pornography. He has remained free on bail.
In January, he abandoned his legal fight against the allegations, and opted to let a judge decide his fate based solely on evidence in police reports and other case records.
The development came after a plea agreement with prosecutors that could result in Haralson spending as little as six months in jail if he successfully completes a sex offender therapy program.
Under the agreement, prosecutors will recommend a prison term of nearly 11 years, but also will support suspension of all but six months under a sentencing alternative allowed for many first-time sex offenders. It will be up to McKeeman whether Haralson gets the special sentence.
The child reported that just before she fell asleep, Haralson came into the room where she was staying and gave her a yellow pill with black writing on it. The girl told investigators that she awoke to find the man sexually assaulting her, but was unable to move.
When the girl awoke the next morning she was injured and there was a $20 bill on the bed next to her, prosecutors alleged.
The girl’s relatives confronted Haralson after the child talked with her teacher and state social workers. He then made repeated phone calls to apologize, including one that was secretly taped under a court order, documents show.
You can call Herald Writer Scott North at 425-339-3431 or send e-mail to north@heraldnet.com.
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