PORT TOWNSEND — Charges have been dropped or reduced in a case in which three people were alleged to have taken indecent liberties with a 14-year-old girl during a party in Port Ludlow in May.
A charge of felony sexual assault has been dropped against Harriet Elizabeth Smith, 39, Port Ludlow, and charges against her husband, Donald Steven Hassett Jr., 30, Port Ludlow, and a third person, Jaren Niles Hackman, 22, Port Townsend, have been reduced.
Hassett pled guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. He must register as a sex offender, and have no contact with minors under the age of 16.
He was sentenced to time already served and was released from Jefferson County jail on June 27.
Hackman is scheduled to appear in court on July 25 to face charges of assault in the fourth degree with sexual motivation, also a misdemeanor.
Hackman was released from the county jail on June 13 after posting bail.
Jefferson County Prosecutor Juelie Dalzell said the case against three dissolved.
“My evidence evaporated,” she said.
“I had a victim who was reportedly in a blackout, and couldn’t tell me what happened and I had no other eye witnesses.”
Jefferson County Undersheriff Tony Hernandez had said that Hassett had brought two teenage girls, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old, to a barbecue at a house he was renting in Port Ludlow on May 2.
The 16-year-old girl told investigators that there were several people at the house when they arrived, that Hassett offered them alcohol, and that she saw sexual touching between Hassett and the 14 year old, Hernandez said.
Dalzell said Wednesday that the 16-year-old girl who originally made statements to police was unwilling to testify.
“The other girl was unwilling to come forward,” Dalzell said.
“There were a thousand pieces in place, but without the 16-year-old coming forward, it was going to be very difficult.
“It was going to be an uphill battle.”
