A Chehalis man arrested in December for allegedly attempting to rape a woman, grabbing a gun and threatening to shoot himself was sentenced Wednesday to seven years to life in prison.
Beau Francis Bruneau, 39, entered an Alford plea to one count of second-degree rape, domestic violence, on Jan. 8.
An Alford plea allows the defendant to take advantage of a plea bargain without admitting guilt.
“I do not clearly remember these events but believe I would be convicted at trial and want to take advantage of the state’s offer,” Bruneau stated in his written guilty plea filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
The state’s offer was to dismiss the felony harassment charge, which carried a deadly weapon enhancement, and recommend a prison sentence of 84 months to life, with a lifetime sexual assault protection order in favor of the victim, lifetime community custody, and a requirement that Bruneau undergo sexual deviancy evaluation and treatment.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Paul Strophy sentenced Bruneau in line with the prosecution’s recommendation on Wednesday.
Bruneau has been in custody at the Lewis County Jail since he was arrested Dec. 25 by Chehalis Police Department officers who responded to a report of a possible rape in progress in the 1700 block of Southwest Fair Street at approximately 8:45 a.m. that day, according to court documents.
The reporting party advised that Bruneau “just tried to rape his friend” and was “walking around the house with a loaded and cocked firearm.”
Bruneau has been identified as the victim’s ex-husband.
At the time of the call, the victim was outside the residence and hiding in her car, while Bruneau was standing between the car and the house, preventing her from entering the residence.
Bruneau was allegedly heard telling the victim over the phone that he was going to shoot himself, according to court documents.
The victim was reportedly still sitting in her car when officers arrived. As officers approached the residence, a man, later identified as Bruneau, exited.
When questioned, Bruneau reportedly said he didn’t have any firearms on him, but that there were firearms inside the residence. He reportedly said he was “having a mental breakdown and considered shooting himself” and allegedly said “whatever (the victim) told you is the truth.”
The victim was reportedly “frantic and crying when officers arrived,” telling officers that Bruneau had raped her and threatened to kill himself.
She reported that she contacted Bruneau the night prior to ask him to drive her to receive emergency medical care. They later returned to the residence, where the victim reported she “tried to move away from (Bruneau)” after he appeared aroused while sitting near her.
“Beau got very still and then suddenly started to rape her and hold her down and rip her clothes off,” the victim reported, saying she was ultimately able to “fight him off,” sustaining visible injuries to her face in the progress.
Bruneau then allegedly “got a gun and started crying and threatening to shoot himself, walking around (with) his pistol, asking permission to kill himself,” according to court documents.
When advised that the victim reported Bruneau had raped her while she was held down, Bruneau allegedly “agreed, though he said he stopped himself before penetration,” according to court documents. He allegedly “agreed that (the victim) had asked him to stop.”
Lewis County Jail records indicate that Bruneau was booked into the jail at 8:50 a.m. on Dec. 25.
He was charged Thursday, Dec. 26, in Lewis County Superior Court with one count each of second-degree rape and felony harassment. Each charge carries a domestic violence enhancement.
He has been in custody on $500,000 bail since his preliminary hearing on Dec. 26.
