Oak Harbor man who raped young girl gets maximum sentence
By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
January 19, 2010 · 3:26 PM
A 28-year-old Oak Harbor man who raped a child received the maximum sentence.
A jury in Island County Superior Court found Jason Bridges guilty of the rape of a child in the first degree following a trial last November. His victim was a 6-year-old girl.
Judge Vickie Churchill on Jan. 11 handed Bridges an indeterminate sentence of 10 years to life, which is the maximum under the standard sentencing range. He will have to serve the minimum sentence of 10 years and then a review board will decide when he should be released.
Bridges testified at his trial that he was innocent and continued to claim he was wrongly convicted at his sentencing hearing. His attorney, Darrin Hall of Coupeville, immediately filed papers indicating that Bridges will appeal.
Chief Criminal Prosecutor Colleen Kenimond asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence, Hall recommended the minimum and the Department of Corrections recommended a mid-range sentence. Churchill agreed with Kenimond and threw the proverbial book at Bridges.
Churchill also imposed an order banning Bridges from contacting the girl for life.
Kenimond said she recently spoke to the victim’s mother and the girl is doing well.
“The child feels safe now,” she said.
Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.Comment on this story.
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