Warning: the following story contains details of sexual assault.
A Friday Harbor man convicted of four counts of rape of a child and four counts of child molestation has been sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Chan Su Choi, 45, was sentenced in San Juan County Superior Court on Jan. 5. The standard range is 20-26 years, but Choi received an “exceptional” sentence due to aggravating factors the jury found present in the case.
After a mistrial this spring, Choi was found guilty after a new trial in November. The victim, who testified in both trials, also spoke at the sentencing hearing.
“The victim faced the offender and gave a statement that showcased both the pain she endured at his hand and her strength in surviving,” said Deputy Prosecutor Teresa Barnett. “The hearing was attended by numerous jurors from both trials as well as many members of the public who remain vested in her recovery and well-being. We are always grateful for the hard work of community members who serve on juries, as it is a time-consuming and sometimes emotional process that is a foundation of the justice system.”
Because the jury found Choi guilty, they had to unanimously agree on whether any aggravating circumstances existed. The jury voted yes on the following five factors: The defendant’s conduct during the commission of the crime manifested deliberate cruelty to the victim; the defendant knew or should have known that the victim was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance; the crime was part of an ongoing pattern of abuse of the same victim under the age of 18 manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time; the crime is an aggravated domestic violence offense; and the defendant used his or her position of trust, confidence and fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the crime.
Case background
A minor reported in April 2024 that Choi had molested her during the previous year.
The victim said she had been “building up the bravery” to talk about it after a SAFE San Juans advocate visited the school’s health class the month before. When asked by the deputy if the alleged abuse went beyond molestation, she said no.
In May, the victim spoke to a child forensic interviewer at the Brigid Collins Child Advocacy Center, where she gave a similar report.
Choi was brought in for questioning at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office two days later. He stated that he did not recall the victim’s account and would “never” do what he is accused of. Choi was charged with four counts of child molestation, arraigned and released at the end of May 2024.
In November, Choi’s then-lawyer, Robert Bulloch, submitted a motion to dismiss the charges for insufficient evidence, citing the State v. Knapsted precedent. Judge Kathryn Loring denied the motion.
In January 2025, the victim asked to speak with law enforcement to report “snapshots” of memories that were returning to her. She described being raped by the defendant multiple times, starting when she was seven and continuing for several years, including during the weeks before her initial report. She alleged that Choi told her not to tell anyone, and, since no one had noticed, “Is anybody going to believe you?” The victim said that when she was older, she sustained injuries to her body after being raped by Choi.
The prosecutor’s office added four charges of rape of a child, and a trial was held in April, resulting in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous decision.
On April 29, Bulloch filed an intent to withdraw, and on May 9, Joshua R. Saunders and Sarra Marie with Marshall & Saunders filed a notice of limited appearance.
The new trial began Nov. 5 and ended Nov. 21. The prosecution and defense were permitted to introduce new evidence and witnesses.
“The verdict was very close before,” Barnett said after the conviction. “So it’s not that surprising that another jury agreed. We are thankful for their efforts. It was a really long trial. It’s a hard job and a tough case.”
