A Chehalis man who initially faced rape charges for allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old in late 2018 has pleaded guilty to a lesser-charge of fourth-degree assault.
Romero Filemon Zaragoza, 37, received the maximum penalty of 364 days incarceration for the gross-misdemeanor charge, with credit for 65 days already served. Lewis County Superior Court issued the jail time as a two-year suspended sentence — meaning that instead of serving the remaining 299 days of his jail sentence, he can serve two years on probation, but will be re-arrested and forced to serve the 299 days in jail if he breaks the conditions of his probation.
Charges against Filemon Zaragoza were first filed in September 2019, along with a warrant for his arrest, after a 15-year-old victim reported that Filemon Zaragoza raped her between September and November 2018. He was arrested in February 2021.
In his written guilty plea submitted to the court on April 23, Filemon Zaragoza admitted that he “pushed” the victim.
Lewis County Superior Court has approved a no-contact order for the victim that is in effect for the next five years.
