PORT TOWNSEND — A March 2 trial date has been set for an 18-year-old Port Townsend man charged with raping his 17-year-old friend.
Jefferson County Superior Court Keith Harper set the date after Tanner O. Huntingford pleaded not guilty to second-degree rape of the girl.
Huntingford, who has posted $5,000 bond on the charge, was arrested Nov. 26 in connection with the alleged early morning Nov. 22 assault at his home.
It involved a longtime friend who had passed out after drinking too much alcohol the night before and awoke early the next morning to Huntingford raping her, according to the probable-cause statement.
Friends for years
She told a friend about the alleged attack at about 5 that morning and told police she and Huntingford had been friends for five years.
“She said neither her actions nor remarks insinuated consent for sex,” according to the probable-cause statement.
According to the statement, the girl was incapable of consent by being physically helpless or mentally incapacitated by sleep or intoxication.
Huntingford repeatedly texted the girl that morning, pleaded with her “to not send him to jail for something he doesn’t remember doing,” according to the statement.
Second-degree rape is a Class A felony punishable by a term of up to life in prison.
Huntingford is represented by Richard Davies of Port Townsend.
Huntingford has an omnibus hearing Jan. 9, a readiness hearing Feb. 6 and a pretrial hearing Feb. 29, all scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
A two-day trial is scheduled.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
