Special sentence due in sex case

A 30-year-old man accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl he met online will likely be sentenced under a special sentencing alternative that allows sex offenders to serve reduced jail time if they participate in treatment.

Robert McIntyre pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court May 18 to one count of indecent liberties without forcible compulsion and two counts of attempted indecent liberties.

As part of the plea bargain, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Colleen Kenimond will recommend that McIntyre be sentenced under the Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative at a hearing in July.

Under the alternative, both the prosecution and defense will recommend that McIntyre receive a sentence of six years and three months incarceration, but all but six months would be suspended. That means he’ll be in jail for six months and then on probation for the balance.

Also, he will have to comply with the recommendations made by the Department of Corrections in an upcoming pre-sentence investigation. The recommendation will likely involve sexual deviancy treatment.

According to Kenimond, the victim’s family believes the sentence is appropriate.

McIntyre, who was the manager of an Oak Harbor sandwich shop, met the girl through MySpace.com. The girl reported that McIntyre tried to pressure her into having sex. McIntyre admitted to a detective that he performed a sex act with the girl, court documents state.

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

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