Judge denies request to split trials for Walla Walla County rape, voyeurism suspect
By Dan Thesman on Monday, May 18th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — A trial date has been set for a Pacific, Washington man facing nine felony charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault, following a procedural hearing last Thursday in Walla Walla County Superior Court.
Daniel Junior Pascual, 32, is accused of seven counts of second-degree rape, one count of first-degree rape, and one count of voyeurism. According to amended information filed back in January, the alleged offenses occurred between 2014 and 2017, involving six different victims.
The case centers heavily on Walla Walla University, where several of the alleged victims were students. Prosecutors allege Pascual targeted women at house parties he hosted near the campus. In many instances, victims reported waking up to sexual assaults after consuming alcohol or suspecting they had been drugged. One victim described feeling incapacitated and unable to fight back as Pascual had allegedly pinned her down.
The Renton Police Department became central to the investigation in January 2021 after responding to a separate alleged forcible rape report involving Pascual. Detective Scott Barfield’s investigation into that case uncovered a pattern of similar assaults spanning King and Walla Walla counties. Pascual was eventually apprehended in April 2025 following a foot pursuit with Renton officers at his family’s place of business.
During last Thursday’s hearing, Judge Brandon Johnson met with defense attorney Robin Olson and state deputy prosecutor Michelle Mulhern to resolve defense motions to sever the charges and discuss the admissibility of prior acts. Olson argued that trying all nine counts simultaneously would unfairly prejudice a jury, while Mulhern countered that the charges show a common scheme and plan of targeting women incapacitated by alcohol.
Judge Johnson denied the defense motion to sever the charges, ruling that the benefits of a joint trial outweighed potential prejudice. However, Johnson noted that specific limiting instructions would be provided to the jury regarding how to evaluate each count.
The scheduled window for the jury trial, which is expected to last approximately three weeks, is July 27 – August 14.
