Judge sentences Olympia man accused of molesting girls at sleepover

An Olympia man accused of molesting two girls during a sleepover was sentenced in a plea deal that one detective described as “a gift” for a predator.

Scott Nathan Graham, 31, appeared Monday in Thurston County Superior Court, where he was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Graham previously pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree assault with sexual motivation, but had initially been charged with one count each of first- and second-degree child molestation.

Olympia police Det. Cori Schumacher pleaded with Judge James Dixon to impose a harsher sentence. Schumacher had interviewed both victims, ages 11 and 12 at the time, and said the girls revealed horrific details of repeated abuse from Graham.

“Both of these young ladies were violated in the worst way — while they were sleeping and by someone they trusted,” Schumacher said at Monday’s hearing. “This plea deal is a gift. Scott Graham is really a predator and needs to be held accountable for his actions.”

Olympia police arrested Graham in November 2014. A middle school principal had contacted police when a female student reported three years of nighttime sexual abuse by Graham. Another student had spent the night at the home and she also awoke to Graham touching her inappropriately, according to court documents.

Prosecutors had initially asked for the low end of the sentencing range, which was one to three months plus a 12-month enhancement for a total of 13 months. The plea deal only considers one victim and was intended to protect both victims from having to go through an emotional trial, according to prosecutors.

However, Dixon said he was compelled to issue the maximum sentence based on testimony from the detective as well as the mother of one victim who spoke on behalf of both girls.

Despite the two-month difference in sentences, Dixon said the low end of the sentence was not appropriate and noted that if Graham had been convicted as charged, he would have faced several years in prison.

The 15-month sentence includes three years of probation. Graham also must register as a sex offender.

Graham declined to address the court at Monday’s hearing. However, in a pre-sentence investigation report, Graham described himself as a very nice, quiet guy who is a “sick, inhumane bastard who touches kids” and said he needed to get his “head checked.”

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Judge sentences Olympia man accused of molesting girls at sleepover."