Port Angeles Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Young Child on National Park Land

          A Port Angeles, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 97 months in prison and ten years of supervised release for aggravated sexual assault of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  CHARLES JASON BUTCHER, 46, admitted the assault in a recorded phone call with his victim in 2016.  The assault on the young child occurred in 2001.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said, “The nature of this offense is extremely odious.”

            “For fifteen years the defendant denied sexually abusing the two young victims in this case, compounding a horrific betrayal,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  “I commend the courage of the victims and the commitment of the Park Service investigator who took what was considered a “cold case” and developed the evidence necessary to convict.”

            According to records filed in the case, two young children, ages 7 and 4, were visiting a resort operated by BUTCHER and his family near Lake Crescent on Olympic National Park land.  Following the visit, the children’s mother suspected sexually abusive contact and medical exams showed signs of sexual molestation.  BUTCHER was interviewed and denied any sexual abuse.  In late 2015, the victim and the victim’s mother reached out to law enforcement, and a National Park Service Special Agent was assigned the case as part of a cold case review.  The victims agreed to additional forensic interviews.  Ultimately, one of the victims agreed to place a recorded phone call to BUTCHER in which he admitted the abuse.  BUTCHER later admitted the molestation of one of the victims to law enforcement.

            The case was investigated by the National Park Service and the FBI.  The case is being prosecuted federally because the assault occurred on National Park land.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Grady Leupold.