Warning: the following story contains details of sexual assault.
After a mistrial this spring, a Friday Harbor man has been convicted of four counts of rape of a child and four counts of child molestation after a new trial in November.
Chan Su Choi, 45, will be sentenced in San Juan County Superior Court on Jan. 5. The standard sentencing range is 20-26 years, but, according to Deputy Prosecutor Teresa Barnett, it could be higher due to the “aggravating factors” the jury found were present in the case. The victim, who testified in both trials, will likely speak at the sentencing hearing as well.
“We will look at similar cases in other counties. We have a lot of work to do before we make a recommendation,” explained Barnett.
Since the jury found Choi guilty, they had to agree unanimously on whether any aggravated 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 he did not recall doing what the victim described and would “never” do what he’s been 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 in kindergarten and continuing for several years, including during the weeks before her initial report.
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.
New trial
The new trial began Nov. 5 and ended Nov. 21. The prosecution and defense were permitted to introduce new evidence and witnesses.
“We brought in a few new experts to explain different things: a nurse to talk about female anatomy and the resilience of the female anatomy and why you will not find injuries in a case like this, and an expert on counter-intuitive responses of victims of sexual assault. Victims rarely, if ever, tell everything the first time they disclose.”
Counterintuitive behavior refers to actions of victims, particularly those of sexual assault and domestic violence, that seem contradictory to standard expectations. This phenomenon has gained attention with awareness of the psychological impacts of trauma, which can result in delayed reporting, inconsistent recounting of events and continued contact with the perpetrator.
“The verdict was very close before,” Barnett said. “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.”
