SPOKANE, A former Eastern State Hospital nurse convicted of rape has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.
The case started in 2004 when a suicidal female patient, age 30, said Gulin Michael Johnston, 44, had groped her and forced her to have oral sex with him. Johnston claimed he was framed by investigators, and his first trial resulted in a hung jury.
Johnston later pled guilty to intimidating a coworker to lie for him in the original trial. According to the witness, a psychiatric security employee of Eastern State Hospital, Johnston threatened to harm her family if she did not testify on his behalf. She also owed him money.
Johnston continues to say he is not guilty of rape. According to his attorney, if Johnston continues to deny culpability and refuse treatment, his sentence could be extended to life in prison.
