TACOMA, WA – Today Jake J. Musga, 19, pleaded guilty to Murder in the First Degree and Rape of a Child in the First Degree in the death of his girlfriend's two-year-old son, C.C. His guilty plea also acknowledged the crimes warrant an exceptional sentence. The defendant's standard range sentence is 22 years to life, but the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office will be asking the judge to sentence the defendant to 60 years to life. The court set the sentencing hearing for November 21, 2013.
"Nothing shocks the conscience more than the murder of a child," said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "We are asking the court for the functional equivalent of a life-sentence."
On March 30, 2013, at approximately 4:00 a.m., a 911 caller reported that the defendant was in the lobby of the Commencement Terrace apartment complex holding a badly bruised young boy who was not breathing. A witness called 911. Tacoma Police and Fire responded to the apartment complex and transported C.C. to a trauma center. Medical staff noted C.C. was in "major shock" and his condition was "catastrophically bad." Bruised from head to toe, the child had a blood alcohol level of 0.12. He showed no significant brain activity, and was pronounced dead later that day.
As part of his plea, the defendant admitted he murdered the 2-year old boy because he was mad the child had urinated on him. An autopsy revealed that C.C. suffered injuries too numerous to count, but there were specific fatal blows to the head and torso. The Medical Examiner stated the injuries were consistent with abuse. C.C. also suffered significant internal and external injuries to the rectum consistent with penetration by an object.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelly Kelstrup, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
253-798-7792
[email protected]