Corrections officer charged with first-degree child rape

PORT ANGELES — A Clallam Bay Corrections Center officer has been charged with first-degree child rape of an 11-year-old girl.

Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson set bail of $50,000 Tuesday for Alexis R. Bustillos Osuna, 32, of Port Angeles. Osuna will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 20. He remained in custody late Tuesday.

The assault allegedly occurred between Nov. 2-6, when the girl’s mother was at work, according to the probable cause statement written by Port Angeles Police Detective Trevor Dropp.

The mother told police of the alleged rape after her daughter said Osuna had touched her sexually.

The girl told Port Angeles Police Officer J.J. Smith that she was at home when Osuna assaulted her while she was sleeping, according to the probable cause statement.

Dropp obtained a court order to record a conversation between the girl’s mother and Osuna.

During the conversation, Osuna admitted to assaulting the girl, Dropp said.

“Alexis also admitted that he told [the girl] not to say anything about it.”

Osuna, a corrections officer 1 at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center, was hired March 23, Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay said Tuesday in an email.

“Mr. Bustillos Osuna will be placed on home assignment, pending investigation,” Barclay said.

Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols had requested the $50,000 bail.

Nichols told Erickson he is concerned Osuna would interfere in the administration of justice because Osuna allegedly told the rape survivor “to keep secret what is alleged to have occurred.”

The charge includes a special allegation that Osuna used his position of trust to commit the crime. Osuna was “in a position of power” in relation to the girl, Nichols said.

“The intimidating effect of that dynamic is not lost on the state.”

Harry Gasnick of Clallam Public Defender, representing Osuna, asked that Osuna be released on his own recognizance.

“There is no indication whatsoever that he would fail to aide by less restrictive conditions of no contact [with the girl] for example,” Gasnick said.

“The nature of the offense, the circumstances of the allegations, are of an opportunistic nature, not a predatory nature.”

Gasnick said Osuna, a former Pyallup resident, has lived for about four years in Peninsula area.

In setting the requested bail, Erickson said she understood Gasnick’s distinction between predatory and opportunistic behavior.

“I’m not sure one is less dangerous than the other,” she said.

“I think based on the nature of the offense, that Mr. Bustillos Osuna bears a substantial likelihood that he may commit violent offense.”

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.