Clallam County Superior Court Judge Simon Barnhart on Friday delayed the felony trial of former Sequim police officer Christian Whitaker, pushing the start date from September 2026 to November 2026. The move followed a defense request filed in early July, despite opposition from prosecutors who contended the defense had ample opportunity to prepare over the past two years.

Whitaker faces charges of second-degree rape, first-degree voyeurism, and unlawful disclosure of intimate images. The alleged conduct traces back to July 1, 2024, at his residence in unincorporated Clallam County, just outside Sequim. At the time, he was serving with the Sequim Police Department. He was placed on administrative leave and stripped of his law enforcement authority shortly after the incident, and he formally resigned from the department in August 2025, a month after formal charges were filed.

The defense motion, submitted by attorney Karen Unger on July 2, cited the need for additional preparation time ahead of the original Sept. 14, 2026, trial. In a sworn statement, Unger noted that a June 30 interview with the complainant—spanning nearly two hours—revealed gaps requiring input from multiple medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and an emergency medical technician. She also highlighted the involvement of specialists in alcohol intoxication and pharmacology, whose availability and input would be critical to building the defense.

Unger further explained that her own scheduled extended vacation later this summer would complicate efforts to secure expert testimony and coordinate witness interviews before the September trial window.

Prosecutors, represented by Special Deputy Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft of Jefferson County, urged the court to deny the continuance. In a written filing, Ashcraft emphasized that Unger had been engaged since late 2024—initially representing Whitaker in a separate sexual assault protection order matter—and had received most discovery materials by August 2025. That gave the defense more than 390 days to ready the case before trial, he noted.

Ashcraft pointed out that the defense only requested an interview with the complainant in early June 2026—nearly a year after charges were filed—and questioned why it would take so long for the defense to recognize the need for medical witnesses, given the case’s clear medical dimensions from the outset. He also underscored the constitutional rights of crime victims to participate meaningfully in proceedings, adding that both the state and the accuser favor a timely resolution.

Judge Barnhart sided with the defense, concluding the delay was justified to ensure a fair opportunity for Whitaker to mount a full defense. His ruling formally vacated the September trial and set the four-day hearing for November 2, 2026. A status conference was scheduled for August 21, with a constitutional speedy-trial deadline of December 2, 2026.

Also at the hearing, Unger filed a signed waiver of extradition, permitting Whitaker to leave Washington State. Prosecutors did not contest the request, and the judge approved it without conditions.

The alleged victim detailed to investigators that she visited the defendant’s residence on the evening of July 1, 2024. She reported consuming two shots of vodka before losing consciousness and waking the following morning with indications of a sexual encounter having occurred. In the hours after waking, she experienced severe nausea and was transported to Olympic Medical Center. While hospital tests were conducted, court records note that the facility’s screening had limited sensitivity for detecting common incapacitating substances, and no such drugs were identified in her system.

During his questioning, the defendant stated that the woman had consumed between three and four shots of vodka. He confirmed that sexual activity took place but maintained that he provided her with nothing other than alcohol. The man admitted to recording a video of the woman while she was unconscious and subsequently sharing the footage with a friend. Court documents indicate that he also sent two photographs of her to the same individual. He conceded that the woman had not agreed to the recording or the distribution of the images.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office took the lead on the investigation to ensure objectivity, selecting personnel who had no prior professional relationship with the defendant. On Sept. 5, 2025, the man was booked into custody and later released without bail. On that same date, Judge Barnhart issued a no-contact order prohibiting the defendant from communicating with the alleged victim.

If found guilty of second-degree rape, the defendant faces a potential sentence of life in prison and a fine of $50,000. A conviction for first-degree voyeurism carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while the charge of disclosing intimate images could result in up to 364 days of incarceration.

What’s Next

A status conference is scheduled for Aug. 21. The trial is currently set to begin on Nov. 2 in Clallam County Superior Court, approximately two years and four months after the incident in question.