A Nisqually Indian Tribe member pleaded guilty on June 23 to decades of child sexual abuse.
Marcus Jerome Douglas entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. He awaits a sentencing hearing on Jan. 7, 2027.
According to multiple sources, Douglas is the brother of Nisqually Tribal Council Chair Ken Choke.
Douglas was charged with six counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor under 12 years of age, all occurring within the boundaries of the Nisqually Indian Reservation.
The FBI led the investigation with assistance from the Olympia Police Department. Assistant U.S. attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Kristine Foerster prosecuted the case.
Douglas was first arrested on Jan. 31, 2024.
According to the filed plea agreement, Douglas admitted to sexually abusing seven child victims, beginning with the first victim in 1995.
Douglas sexually abused two other children around this same time period.
Three additional counts occurred throughout the 2000s. The final count began in 2017 and ended in 2019, according to the plea agreement.
By pleading guilty, Douglas voluntarily waives his right to appeal the findings. Though he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office has agreed to recommend a term of 12 years at his sentencing hearing. Douglas’ attorneys will recommend eight years.
The court is not bound to these recommendations.
As part of his conviction, Douglas must register as a sex offender.
He is represented by attorneys John Carpenter and Heather Carroll.
