A 23-year-old man who admitted to a violent home invasion in Northeast Tacoma that left a woman in her 70s sexually assaulted and both victims traumatized has been sentenced to 29 years to life in prison.
Jose Javier Barragan was sentenced Friday in Pierce County Superior Court after pleading guilty in February to multiple felony charges, including two counts of first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, and first-degree burglary. The crimes took place in July 2023 during a pre-dawn break-in at the victims’ residence.
According to court records, the victims were asleep when Barragan entered their home, climbed onto their bed, and restrained them while pointing a gun at the man’s head. After demanding to know the location of a safe—which the couple did not have—Barragan tied the man’s hands and forced the woman at gunpoint into another room, where he raped her twice.
The victims later shared their anguish in a written statement to the court, calling for the harshest possible sentence and describing the attack as cruel and calculated.
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Prosecutors Bryce Nelson and Robin Sand described the incident as “egregious” and emphasized the deep and lasting trauma inflicted on the victims. Judge Sabrina Ahrens imposed an indeterminate sentence at the high end of the guidelines, meaning Barragan must serve a minimum of 29 years and three months before he can request a review by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
Authorities located Barragan after tracking the couple’s stolen phones to a home near Parkland. He attempted to flee from sheriff’s deputies, prompting an additional charge of attempting to elude law enforcement.
Although Barragan had no previous criminal convictions, a pre-sentence investigation revealed his past gang involvement in California during his late teens. He had reportedly been homeless and unemployed at the time of the incident and admitted to being under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
In his interview with a community corrections officer, Barragan expressed remorse and stated that he prays for the victims daily. “I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart. I hope one day you can forgive me,” he said.
Despite his apology, the officer noted the unprovoked and violent nature of the crime, emphasizing the profound harm done to the victims.
