Guilty plea to rape

By JESSIE STENSLAND
WHIDBEY NEWS TIMES

A 29-year-old man is facing five years in prison for raping a teenaged girl at a party in Oak Harbor about three years ago.

As part of a plea bargain, Michael Davis pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court Nov. 16 to rape in the third degree. He was originally charged with second-degree rape.

A sentencing hearing has been set for Jan. 7. Under the terms of the plea bargain, the deputy prosecutor and defense attorney will recommend a five-year prison term, which is the maximum under the standard sentencing range.

Davis was serving time in a Nevada prison when he was charged with the crime in August.

The officer who investigated wrote in her report that the 15-year-old girl was at an Oak Harbor home with Davis and two other people March 18, 2006. The girl passed out from consuming alcohol. She regained consciousness to discover that Davis was having sex with her, but then apparently passed out again.

Davis spoke to the detective and denied that he had sex with the girl, but DNA evidence taken from the girl’s underwear closely matched Davis’ DNA profile.

Davis’ criminal history includes convictions for communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, forgeries and car theft, court documents state.

This article was originally published in the Whidbey News Times on December 22, 2009.
Jessie Stensland can be reached at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com.