News and Press Releases

TULALIP TRIBAL MEMBER SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEX CRIMES
Defendant Pleaded Guilty in Midst of Trial to Molesting Young Relatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2009

JOSEPH A. JIMICUM, JR., 52, an enrolled member of the Tulalip Indian Tribes, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison and lifetime supervised release for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Aggravated Sexual Contact. JIMICUM pleaded guilty March 11, 2009, following two days of testimony at his trial on an eighteen count indictment charging that he had sexually abused seven young relatives while staying in their homes. As part of the plea both sides agreed to recommend a ten year prison term. At sentencing Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said the sexual abuse is “a terrible tragedy for the family and the children.... The Court will always remember the tremendous courage of the children who came in and testified.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, the sexual assaults on the victims occurred in 2006 and 2007, while JIMICUM was staying with relatives in two different homes on the Tulalip reservation. In his plea agreement JIMICUM admits to molesting young girls just 10 and 11- years-old. At the time of his plea, three of the victims had already testified. By resolving the case, additional victims did not have to endure the trauma of testifying about the molestation.

In asking Chief Judge Lasnik to accept the plea agreement and sentence JIMICUM to ten years in prison, Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London wrote to the court that resolving the case allowed the healing process to continue for the young victims. “Mr. Jimicum’s sexually assaultive and abusive conduct, followed by seemingly endless counseling and the ordeal of preparing for and participating in a stressful trial, could have torn apart even the closest families. Yet, the victim families have shown tremendous perseverance, strength, love and support for one another despite all they have gone through,” Mr. London wrote to the court.

As part of his lifetime of supervised release, JIMICUM will be required to register as a sex offender, and have no contact with the victims or other children without pre-approved supervision. JIMICUM will be required to undergo sexual deviancy treatment, and abstain from all drugs and alcohol.

The case was investigated by the Tulalip Police Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted federally because the crimes occurred on Tribal lands and involved a Tribal member.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Roger Rogoff. Mr. London serves as the Tribal Liaison for the United States Attorney’s Office.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.

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