A Lake Stevens man will spend at least 131/2 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday to engaging in sex with a teenage boy, and keeping a video record of the abuse.
Eugene Brian Garvie, 40, had been a referee in youth wrestling competitions since 1989. He was accused of trading alcohol and drugs for sex and nude photo sessions involving boys he met through sports.
During a Snohomish County Superior Court hearing, Garvie pleaded guilty to four felonies: second-degree child rape, sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of possessing child pornography.
He remains jailed without bail awaiting sentencing July 13.
As part of the plea, Garvie agreed to a minimum sentence of 131/2 years.
He may be held for life, however, if he fails to one day convince the parole board that he no longer is a danger, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mark Roe said.
As part of Friday’s action on the case, prosecutors also removed a material witness warrant that had recently kept a 15-year-old boy in custody in connection with Garvie’s case.
The boy was 13 when a video was made of Garvie raping him.
“We are extremely happy because there wasn’t one of these young people who wanted to testify,” Roe said. “Some of them were violently opposed to testifying and at least a couple of them made it clear it was going to be extremely traumatic to testify.”
Garvie admitted sexual activity with some of the teens he met through sports. Investigators recovered videos he made of sex acts, according to court papers.
He’d originally been charged with 10 felonies, all but three of those stemming from possession of child pornography.
Under the plea agreement, Garvie admitted to rape.
That was the most serious charge because it carried with it an indeterminate maximum sentence that, depending on the parole board, could keep the defendant behind bars for life, Roe said.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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