PORT TOWNSEND — Former Chimacum High School Principal Rex Whipple’s criminal trial will not be heard in front of a 12-person jury.
Instead, Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser will decide whether Whipple is guilty or innocent of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, 10 counts of possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of voyeurism.
If Whipple, whose attorney waived his right to a jury trial, is convicted of all counts, they carry a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison and/or a fine of $130,000.
“That’s fine with me,” Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell said of having Whipple tried by Verser.
“I think it’s easier on the victim without 13 people looking at the pictures.”
A jury has 12 people on it with one alternate.
Whipple’s defense attorney Alton McFadden did not return repeated calls Monday for comment.
His secretary said she gave him the messages, but that he said he was busy.
March 13 arrest
Dalzell said McFadden told her he waived a jury trial because of the publicity Whipple received following his March 13 arrest for allegedly videotaping a 15-year-old Chimacum High School student in various stages of undress without her knowledge while she was in Whipple’s Port Ludlow residence.
Law enforcement officials say the girl has not been identified because she is a minor and a victim of a sex crime.
Whipple was principal of Chimacum High School at the time.
Whipple was placed on paid administrative leave by the School Board the day he was arrested.
He put in his resignation in April, which became effective at the end of the 2005-2006 school year in June.