An Island County Superior Court judge sentenced Dallas Broyles to 98 months to life for first-degree child molestation March 7.

The Clinton man, a registered sex offender, was arrested last fall after allegations surfaced that he had violated a 4-year-old victim.

The prosecutor’s office filed first-degree child molestation and second-degree incest charges against Broyles in October.

The case was resolved with a plea bargain, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said.

“The mother did not want the victim to have to testify against the defendant, which is understandable,” Banks said.

However, she did speak at his sentencing hearing and filed a written statement for the court.

“She basically recommended a three- to five-year sentence, and believed that, with proper treatment and management, he could function without re-offending,” Banks said.

“The defendant admitted his guilt, and told the judge that he knows he has a problem, and he realizes the best way for him to protect his family from himself was for him to be separated from them,” Banks said.

“He said he pled guilty for that reason, and to spare the victim from having to testify.”

Broyles’ sentence ranges from a little more than eight years to life, pending a reevaluation.

“In other words, he will be eligible for release after he serves his 98 months,” Banks said. “He will be evaluated for his likelihood to re-offend as he nears his minimum term.”

If the parole board determines he is likely to re-offend, he will not be released, Banks said.

If Broyles is not released, he will be eligible for parole review in another five years.

“If he is ever released, he will be in community custody for the rest of his life — meaning supervision by the department of corrections,” Banks said. “A violation of the conditions of his release could result in his having to serve the remainder of his life sentence.”

Even though he had two prior offenses, they were not considered “strikes” under Washington’s three strikes law, so his sentence was not a life without parole case.

Before his most recent arrest, Broyles was a Level 2 sex offender due to a 2002 Colorado conviction for sexual assault of a child. He also has a 1993 conviction in Utah.

Banks told the judge that a mid-range sentence would have been 114 months had he been convicted at trial.

“That is the presumed correct sentence for someone convicted of child molestation with his history,” Banks said.

Banks said he would not reduce the charges from child molestation in the first degree because Broyles had prior offenses.

“If necessary, I was prepared to put the victim on the stand, even though she was reluctant to do so,” he said.

However, Banks agreed to recommend the 98 months in exchange for Broyles’ pleading guilty. Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill agreed with the recommendation.

Broyles had initially pled not guilty to charges of first-degree child molestation and second-degree incest.

Police arrested Broyles Sept. 27 after a tip from the family of the alleged victim.

Police investigated and sheriff’s detective Sue Quandt interviewed the 4-year-old victim.

The prosecutor’s office filed charges against Broyles on Oct. 1.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarx

wheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com.