A charge of domestic violence against a San Juan Island man was dismissed after the victim recanted her testimony.

Jeyson Siguenza, 29, pleaded not guilty on Aug. 21, 2023 to assault in the second degree — domestic violence in San Juan County Superior Court. A jury trial was set for early November. The charges were dismissed on Oct. 16.

On Aug. 18 at 12:45 a.m. deputies were dispatched to a possible domestic violence incident on San Juan. Upon arrival, the victim was bleeding heavily from the bridge of her nose and there was a large puddle of blood on the porch. The victim was transported to Peace Island Peace Health Hospital, where she received stitches and was treated for a hematoma on the back of her head. The victim and a witness stated Siguenza had caused the injuries during an argument.

According to court documents, deputy prosecuting attorney Teresa Barnett was approached by the victim a few weeks after Siguenza’s initial court appearance. The victim requested the charges be dismissed due to fear of deportation and confusion over what occurred the night of the incident.

Barnett told the victim her immigration status would not be affected by the case, and that her new account of the night’s events (that she was injured during a tussle over a phone) was not consistent with the evidence. The victim contacted the prosecutor’s office again several weeks later, stating she “lied” during her initial interview with deputies.

Barnett wrote, “While I do not find the victim’s recantation particularly credible, I also do not feel that a conviction would be found by an objective fact finder when the admissible evidence is considered the most plausible, reasonably foreseeable defense that could be raised under the evidence. Therefore, in the interest of justice, the State moves to dismiss the case without prejudice, terminate the protection order filed herein and rescind the order to surrender weapons.”