COLFAX, WA – A 52-year-old Pullman business owner was sentenced today on one count of First-Degree Child Molestation. According to Tessa Scholl, Senior Deputy Prosecutor with the Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office, Victor Hudak was given life in prison with the earliest possible release after 68 months. He was convicted on January 18th Whitman County jury.
“In order to be released the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board will determine if he has been rehabilitated and whether he poses an ongoing threat to the community. If released from prison, he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and will be under lifetime supervision by the Department of Corrections. The victim, in this case, was issued a lifetime Sexual Assault Protection Order,” a press release says.
“Mr. Hudak’s actions in this case were opportunistic and predatory, he abused the trust of an 11 year old girl who had known him through his music store since she was 7 years old.” Scholl says. “I believe the maximum sentence was appropriate in this case and with this closure it is my hope that the victim and her family can move forward and heal.”
Case background:
On July 24, 2022, the 11-year-old victim and her six-year-old sister went to the creek near the playfields in Pullman, Washington. While swimming in the creek the girls saw Victor Hudak above them on the bridge. Mr. Hudak went below the bridge and contacted the girls.
When Mr. Hudak approached, the victim saw that he had an erection. The girls went up to the playfield where the six-year-old was boosted into a tree by Hudak. While the six-year-old was in the tree Mr. Hudak reached over with his hand and touched the victim’s buttocks. The victim and her sister went home and the victim immediately disclosed to her father and stepmother what Mr. Hudak had done.
Mr. Hudak was also convicted of Assault in the Fourth Degree with Sexual Motivation in 2019 for touching a different victim.
