PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man who was acquitted on two counts of child molestation last month has pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation.
David Randall Chesser, 49, was sentenced Tuesday to 364 days in jail with 319 days suspended. He will receive credit for time served.
Charging papers said Chesser assaulted one girl with sexual motivation between July 2007 and July 2009 and another girl between May and August of 2012.
Both victims, now 18 and 15, read victim statements at the sentencing hearing Tuesday.
Chesser was originally charged in December 2016 with five counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree child molestation. It was alleged that Chesser violated a position of trust to commit the offenses.
He was acquitted on two counts of first-degree child molestation April 24.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict on three remaining counts: first-degree child molestation, second-degree child molestation with domestic violence and first-degree child molestation and in the alternative, second-degree child molestation.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Woolman and defense attorney Harry Gasnick of Clallam Public Defender announced May 3 that they had reached a plea agreement in Chesser’s case.
Chesser posted a $100,000 property bond in January 2017. The bond was exonerated Tuesday.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Erik Rohrer signed a post-conviction no-contact order prohibiting Chesser from having any contact with the victims.
Chesser was ordered to pay $1,300 in court fees.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
