Coast Guard agent pleads not guilty in rape case

An investigator with the U.S. Coast Guard who’s accused of raping a co-worker’s girlfriend at a Hazel Dell residence entered not-guilty pleas Friday in Clark County Superior Court.

Jonathan Sall, 56, of Poulsbo is charged with second-degree rape and indecent liberties without forcible compulsion in connection with the Feb. 17 incident.

Sall is a civilian employee with the Coast Guard Investigative Service in Seattle and is the special agent in charge of the Coast Guard’s Northwest region. He has been relieved of his position pending the outcome of the case, according to the Coast Guard.

He appeared out of custody for Friday’s hearing with Vancouver attorney Jacy Thayer.

His trial was set for July 23, after waiving his right to a speedy trial.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called shortly after 6 a.m. to the Hazel Dell residence after Sall allegedly climbed into a co-worker’s bed and sexually assaulted the co-worker’s girlfriend.

The victim told deputies that she awoke about 3 a.m. to Sall inappropriately touching her. She kicked Sall away and demanded he get out of the couple’s bedroom. The commotion woke up the co-worker, who saw Sall crawling out of the bedroom, court records said.

Sall told investigators that he was at the couple’s residence for a party and couldn’t remember much of what transpired overnight. He declined to answer questions about the sexual assault, according to court documents.