Wellpinit Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Assault and Firearms Violation

Spokane –Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Christopher James Carson, age 32, of Wellpinit, Washington, was sentenced on today after having previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Carson to a combined 70- month term of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of court supervision after he is released from Federal prison. Judge Rice ordered Carson to register as a sex offender.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, on May 14, 2013, Carson, a guest at the victim’s house, snuck into her bedroom while she was asleep with her boyfriend and sexually assaulted her. During the investigation of that case, law enforcement learned that he had illegally possessed a firearm on two occasions after being previously convicted of a felony.

Michael C. Ormsby stated: "This case exemplified the strong working partnership between the Spokane Tribal Police Department and the FBI – they must be commended for the dedication and hard work demonstrated in this case. Sexual assaults will not be tolerated within any Indian reservation located in the Eastern District of Washington. The United States Attorney’s Office is and will continue to be committed to prosecute aggressively sexual assault and firearms violations that occur within this District, particularly any such assault or violation that occur within any of the four Indian reservations in eastern Washington.”

This investigation was conducted by Spokane Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Rudy J. Verschoor, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

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