Four felony charges dropped against Seattle attorney accused of raping massage therapists

King County prosecutors have dropped four charges against a Seattle lawyer accused of raping women at massage offices, just as his trial is getting under way.

Danford Grant had been accused of raping or trying to rape five women, but charges involving three of them were dismissed Monday as jury selection was beginning. The prosecutor’s office said in an email it made the decision “as a result of additional investigation and case preparation.”

Danford Grant pleaded not guilty and has been free on bail since 2012. He was a partner in a Seattle law firm. He still faces five counts, including rape, attempted rape and burglary.

If convicted, Grant faces up to 45 years in prison.

Police said the attacks happened in Bellevue, Shoreline and Seattle. Grant was arrested in September 2012 two blocks away from a massage parlor in Greenwood after one of the alleged attacks. Detectives reportedly found a replica handgun, a bag of Viagra, and electronics in his car.

One of Grant’s alleged victims spoke with KIRO Radio shortly after his arrest. “I was trying to say, ‘Why do you want to hurt me if you say you love me,’ but the knife was always on my neck,” she said.

She said there was nothing she could do to stop him. “He turned out like an animal,” she said. “You can’t stop him.”

Grant originally denied he had anything to do with the attacks, but his defense team appears ready to claim that the sex was consensual. They say the women all worked as prostitutes in the massage parlors and that he paid for sex.

Danford has been under house arrest since posting a $1 million bail.

The King County Superior Court judge who had been handling the case, Mary Yu, was appointed last week to the state Supreme Court. Judge William Downing is taking over.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.