Mexico Trucker Online

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Joseph Giuliano, the former high-ranking Border Patrol official accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl, changed his plea to guilty of third-degree child rape Thursday in Whatcom County Superior Court.

Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Mac Setter said he’s recommending Giuliano serve one year in custody of the Whatcom County Jail on work release [, Back at the Border Patrol?!?] and three years of sexual deviancy treatment after that, the Bellingham Herald reported.

The paper also said the plea means Giuliano will have to register as a sex offender.

Giuliano was the No. 2 man in the local Border Patrol before he was arrested on suspicion of raping the high school girl, who was a friend of the family.

Police say Giuliano admits he had sex at least 24 times with the girl.

Setter alleged in court last October that Giuliano had sex with her for the last time on Oct. 13, after police had already visited the girl’s high school and had told Giuliano that he was under investigation, at which time he denied anything was happening. Setter says later, the girl told police they had sex later that same night.

The victim told detectives she had been involved with Giuliano. She said they arranged meeting times by communicating through text messages. The two met in his car, in her bed and at his house, she said.

When questioned by detectives, Giuliano admitted to having had sexual intercourse with the victim on at least 24 different occasions, according to the statement of probable cause. He said their relationship began in April 2008 and continued until October.

At times, he told the girl it was wrong and feared he would get caught, the statement said.

The victim is not related to Giuliano, who is married. Setter says Giuliano’s wife was not aware of the alleged abuse.

Giuliano had been a Border Patrol agent for more than 20 years and as deputy chief has overseen operations in Western Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

WE FIRST REPORTED THIS STORY HERE

The lenient sentencing recommendations from the prosecutor’s office (when they could say the maximum time for the counts, 15 years; Why do they ask a 14-year old girl that is still probably romantically involved in her mind, what do her parents think?). Sentencing is June 25th. Call and bring this up everywhere you can, the people that are hearing of it are livid.

Contact information for Judge Charles R. Snyder, who will determine sentencing for Giuliano on June 25th:

Judge Charles R. Snyder
Whatcom County: Superior Court
311 Grand Ave, Ste 301
Bellingham, WA 98225-4048

(360) 738-2457