Man who sexually assaulted teen in WWU dorm sentenced in Whatcom County
A 23-year-old man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a high school student he knew in a Western Washington University dorm in May 2020 was sentenced to one year in jail in Whatcom County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Sean Aaron Boss was booked into Whatcom County Jail in September 2021 on a charge of second-degree rape. He pleaded guilty to an amended charge of third-degree rape on Feb. 11.
According to court records, the victim and a friend were visiting WWU’s campus to see the friend’s boyfriend and attend some parties. They also met up with Boss. At some point, the victim’s friend and her boyfriend returned to the boyfriend’s dorm room. The victim and Boss eventually came back as well, and the victim fell asleep on the bottom bunk bed.
Her friend told police she woke up to find Boss sexually assaulting the victim while she appeared to be unconscious. She asked her friend if she was okay, court documents state, but didn’t get a reply. She told Boss to get off of her friend, and he eventually did. She spent the rest of the night in the victim’s bed to make sure she was safe.
As part of a pre-sentencing investigation report, the victim told the Department of Corrections that the sexual assault has negatively affected many aspects of her life. Her relationship with her parents was strained, she said, and she has difficulty trusting people.
Boss apologized for his actions in the courtroom, and told Judge Evan Jones that he wouldn’t have to worry about seeing him in court again. Family and friends came to support Boss in person and on Zoom.
Jones acknowledged this support and Boss’ willingness to take accountability in his sentencing, as well as the ages of Boss and the victim at the time of the crime. Still, he said there was “no world” in which Boss or anyone else is allowed to act in such a harmful way.
He followed the agreed upon recommendation for one year in prison with credit for time served, followed by a year of community custody. A no-contact order will be put in place for two years following his release. Boss will also have to complete sexual deviancy treatment and register as a sex offender.
Resources
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence.
▪ NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Whatcom: www.namiwhatcom.org/crisis-resources.html
▪ Washington State Crisis Line/National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or text HOME to 741741 for a crisis counselor
▪ Whatcom County Triage Center Crisis Line: 800-584-3578
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.