Auburn man accused of raping deaf, partially blind woman

Auburn man accused of raping deaf, partially blind woman

A 62-year-old Kent man accused of sexually assaulting a deaf and partially blind woman has been charged with two counts of rape.

Nicolas B. Masuhay, who was jailed Tuesday, is accused of forcing himself on the hearing-impaired woman in the spring of 2009 at the Auburn home where she lived with family.

According to charging documents, the woman repeatedly sought help but was unable to contact police or report the alleged assaults to her caregiver because of her disability. The woman and her caregiver ultimately contacted police in July to make the allegations against Masuhay, an acquaintance of the woman's through family.

According to charging documents, the woman told police the assaults began in March 2009 and continued until May. Masuhay would sexually assault her when they were alone in the home, the woman told police, adding that "she could not stop Masuhay no matter how much she tried."

Asking that Masuhay be held on $150,000 bail, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Charles Sergis argued that Masuhay had preyed on the woman's disability.

"(She) is deaf and has trouble communicating except through sign language," Sergis told the court. "Her condition, which the defendant was aware of, enabled him to victimize her and prevented her from reporting the crimes sooner."

Contacted by police at the home, Masuhay denied having sex with the woman, according to police reports. He claimed she was lying in an effort to get attention.

Masuhay has been charged with two counts of third-degree rape. He remains jailed at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center on $150,000 bail.