One rape case moves forward, one is dismissed
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – New developments unfolded in two separate sexual assault cases in Walla Walla County Superior Court Monday. One case involves a Yakima man who was arrested earlier this month. The other sees charges dropped against a Walla Walla man.
Will Arthur Stubblefield Jr., 46, is in jail and charged with three felony charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at the Sleep Center earlier this month pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree burglary, and harassment. He is currently be held in the Walla Walla County Jail on a $100,000 bond. His trial is set for Tuesday, Nov. 30.
Stubblefield is accused of entering a female’s hut at the Sleep Center at around 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 and raping her as she was changing clothes. Stubblefield is also accused of threatening to kill the female victim and stealing a $5 bill from her.
In an unrelated case, Walla Walla County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle M. Mulhern asked the court to dismiss charges against Benjamin Garcia, Jr., 43, of Walla Walla. He was charged in October 2020 of four felonies including second-degree rape and human trafficking that took place during the month of August 2020.
According to the court documents, police suspected Garcia of drugging and raping two women. The first woman reported being drugged and then sexually assaulted by the suspect and two other men.
The second woman told police the suspect had given her methamphetamine and demanded sex in return. Police said she then told them Garcia gave her a beverage and she blacked out. She told the investigator she was driven to a location in College Place where a second man raped her as well. She did not know that individual.
In addition to the other charges, Garcia was charged with taking indecent liberties and unlawful imprisonment. The unlawful imprisonment charge stems from the first victim’s statement that the suspect locked the door, refusing to let her leave the residence.
In the order filed Monday to dismiss the case against Garcia, documents show the Walla Walla County Prosecutor’s Office has been unable to locate either victim to ensure their presence and testimony at trial. Therefore, prosecutors are currently unable to prove every element of each crime charged, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Superior Court Judge Brandon L. Johnson signed the order dismissing the case and charges, along with dropping all previous no-contact orders.
