Surprise guilty plea in child rape, murder case

Tacoma, Wash. — The rape and murder of 2-year-old Chayson Colley was so brutal, Pierce County prosecuting attorney Mark Lindquist wants his teenage killer to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Jake Musga, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to giving Colley alcohol before raping and murdering him while he baby-sat the boy for his girlfriend. Officials said the child was so severely beaten, he was covered in bruises from head to toe, he was sexually assaulted and he had a blood alcohol level of.12 percent. The blood alcohol level for an adult to be considered too intoxicated to drive is .08 percent.

Musga was arrested March 31 after a witness spotted him carrying Colley around the lobby of the Tacoma apartment complex where Musga lived with the boy's mother.  According to a probable cause affidavit, Musga was crying and Colley appeared badly bruised so the witness called 911. The affidavit stated Musga lied about the boy's injuries, telling Tacoma police detectives he had flailed as Musga was trying to brush his teeth and hit his head.

Following Musga's guilty plea in Pierce County superior court, Lindquist said he would ask for a sentence beyond the standard range of 22 years to life in prison. "We'll be recommending an exceptional sentence of 60 years to life, which is the functional equivalent of a life sentence," said Lindquist.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21.

KIRO