A former bar owner in Everett was sentenced to prison for 109 years on Monday for sexually assaulting several women and a child, including customers of his business.
Across four trials, juries in Snohomish County Superior Court convicted Christian Sayre, 39, on 16 counts of second-degree rape, third-degree rape of a child, indecent liberties and possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was convicted of assaulting nearly a dozen victims over a decade.
Sayre owned the Anchor Pub in Everett beginning in 2014, and prosecutors said he met, drugged and assaulted many of his victims at the bar and at his house, which was within walking distance.
Judge Millie Judge imposed an exceptional" sentence above the standard range, citing the length and breadth of Sayre's crimes. Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Sayre to nearly 133 years in prison. Sayre's defense attorneys asked for a sentence of 17 ½ years.
"The egregiousness of (Sayre's) actions and the prolificness with which he perpetrated these sexual assaults simply cannot be ignored," the state's sentencing memo said. "He created and orchestrated the very situations to commit these crimes."
In a victim impact statement, one sexual assault survivor called the defense's request "laughable" and asked for the maximum possible sentence. The survivor wrote that Sayre's assaults were known throughout the community for years, and that she believed the convictions only represent a fraction of his actual crimes.
"I didn't want to put myself through this, but I did. Not for myself but for my community," she wrote, referring to her decision to report the assault and be involved with the trial. "For the people who never came forward, for those that came forward but were ignored, and those that came forward but couldn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt as needed by the courts."
According to The Daily Herald in Everett, Sayre addressed the court during his sentencing hearing and said there was "never any malice" or "plan to take advantage of anyone" in what he called "sexual encounters."
Everett police began investigating Sayre in 2021 after DNA evidence linked him to a 2020 sexual assault. During the investigation, the Police Department said, investigators found a notebook belonging to Sayre listing over 30 women, along with hard drives containing child pornography. In a news release, Everett police Chief John DeRousse said it was "one of the most complex and disturbing cases" the department has handled.
In the release, Mayor Cassie Franklin said the sentencing "reflects the gravity of Christian Sayre’s crimes and honors the strength of the survivors who came forward to ensure he was held accountable."
“This case is a stark reminder of the importance of victim advocacy, trauma-informed investigations and the power of perseverance in the pursuit of justice.”
The court also ordered that Sayre not contact any of the victims. According to The Herald, Judge told Sayre he had broken the trust of his friends, family and community.
“You used your business as a hunting ground for victims," Judge said, according to The Herald. The scope and scale of your predatory sexual assaults is unprecedented. Your behavior was violent, it was manipulative, it was callous and, ultimately, it was selfish and done for your own sexual gratification.”
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