A tattoo artist could spend over a year behind bars after confessing to sexually assaulting a woman he invited to model for him.
In September 2022, Jose Chamorro Castillo, 43, invited a woman to his home in Richland, offering her a free tattoo in exchange for permission to include pictures of it in his portfolio.
He took her to his bedroom and assaulted her.
On Thursday in Benton County Superior Court, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of third-degree assault with sexual motivation, despite being charged with two counts of second-degree rape.
He faces a prison sentence ranging from one year and one month to one year and three months. He must also sign up as a sex offender.
Prosecutors intend to seek the highest possible penalty.
An investigation by the state Department of Corrections is required prior to sentencing.
Chamorro Castillo gained attention as one of six defendants in the Benton County jail who were released due to not having an assigned attorney.
He was initially taken into custody in April, faced charges in May, and remained in jail awaiting a $200,000 bail payment. On June 6, he appeared before Judge Diana Ruff without legal representation.
The public defense manager in Benton County stated that he had no attorneys available to take on his case.
Everyone has the right to an attorney, as guaranteed by both federal and Washington state constitutions if they cannot afford one.
Individuals accused of a crime are assured the opportunity for a prompt trial, set at 60 days if they are incarcerated or 90 days if they are not, unless they choose to forgo this right.
He was scheduled to come back the following week, but he failed to appear, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant for him. He was apprehended two months later.
Chamorro Castillo is identified as the proprietor of The Badder Ink, a tattoo and piercing establishment with branches in Kennewick, Oregon, and New York.
A woman reached out to Chamorro Castillo’s shop in September 2022 to inquire about getting a tattoo for her birthday.
Upon learning about her birthday, he was adamant that they mark the occasion at his shop with champagne, according to court documents.
He inquired whether he could ink her at no cost in return for capturing some images for his portfolio. She consented, and he proposed they discuss it further. She proposed heading to a local bar, but he deemed it unsafe and instead invited her to his residence in Richland, as stated in court documents.
On his journey, he paused at a gas station to pick up a bottle of wine and a rose for her.
“She advised that she started to feel uncomfortable but he had given her the tattoo for free, so she felt obligated,” court documents said.
At the residence, he offered her a glass of wine and urged her to take a shot of tequila, according to the documents. She reported to the authorities that she attempted to escape, but he directed her into the bedroom and assaulted her.
Following her departure, she visited a hospital where the DNA collected was deemed a close match to Chamorro Castillo, according to court documents.
A detective from Richland found that Kennewick police looked into three additional reports involving Chamorro Castillo, who allegedly offered free tattoos before making unwanted sexual advances. No charges were brought in those cases, as stated in court documents.
“Also, in 2019, a Facebook post warned women about a tattoo artist who was being sexually aggressive with girls,” according to court documents. Several women posted warnings about Chamorro Castillo, who goes by “Israel,” said the documents.