Coupeville man faces 10 years

A 26-year-old Coupeville man is accused of having sex with an underaged girl, pointing a gun at her, threatening to kill her and providing her and her friend with marijuana, all of which allegedly occurred three years ago, court documents indicate.

Prosecutors charged Chad Perdue in Island County Superior Court May 5 with the rape of a child in the third degree, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, harassment (threats to kill) with a special domestic violence allegation, two counts of distribution of marijuana to a minor and theft of a firearm.

If convicted of all the charges, Perdue could face up to 10 years in prison under the standard sentencing range.

Coupeville Deputy Hodges Gowdey investigated the case after the girl told someone about the allegations at a treatment center in another county.

The girl claimed that she had a sexual relationship with Perdue in 2006, when she was just 15 years old, Gowdey wrote. She said Perdue took a handgun from his parents’ night stand and pointed it at her on several occasions, the report states.

The girl reported that Perdue threatened to kill her friend in front of her if she ever breaks up with him, Gowdey wrote.

In addition, Perdue is accused of stealing a firearm from a family member in Coupeville in 2007, court documents indicate.

In an interview with the deputy, Perdue adamantly denied that he knew the alleged victim, Gowdey wrote.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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