By Stephanie Rice
The Columbian (Washington)
Copyright 2007 The Columbian
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
Hazel Dell resident and former paramedic Shayne M. Shults pleaded no contest Monday to one count of second-degree rape of a child and four counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation for getting young girls drunk and fondling them.
He entered a Newton plea, which let him acknowledge there’s sufficient evidence to convict him without admitting to the crime.
In the eyes of the court, it counts the same as a guilty plea.
Shults, 38, had worked for AMR Northwest, which provides emergency services for most of the county, for five years when he was arrested in May.
The crimes occurred between 1999 and 2004 at Shults’ home.
According to court documents, the girls, who were as young as 13, told investigators Shults gave them a shot of an unknown substance in a syringe in addition to alcohol. One girl said Shults asked her to do jumping jacks naked so he could watch, while others said Shults kissed and fondled them.
Shults, who is married with children, faces between 12 and 16 years in prison.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16 by Clark County Superior Court Judge John Nichols.
The hearing could be delayed to allow more time for the Department of Corrections to submit a pre-sentencing report. The reports, which give judges a third opinion on what a defendant deserves, are required in cases of child sexual abuse.
Defense attorney Jon McMullen said Monday he will have a substantial number of Shults’ supporters who will encourage Nichols to hand down a sentence on the low end of the range.
When Shults’ arrest was announced, Marla Schuman, interim director of the Clark County Child Abuse Intervention Center, said the assaults involved girls Shults knew in his private life.
In September, Washington Department of Health officials revoked Shults’ professional certification for 10 years.
In announcing the revocation, the Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System said Shults is also known as Michael Shayne Nelson.
On three applications submitted to the health department, Shults concealed a 1987 conviction for attempted indecent liberties with a child, according to health officials.