Another charge for Seattle attorney accused of rape

The former partner at a Seattle law firm, accused of rapes at massage parlors, had his bail reduced from $3 million to $1 million while in court on Thursday morning.

However, Danford Grant, has been charged with a seventh felony count of rape in the first degree. A charging document claims Grant approached an employee of a Seattle massage parlor as she was leaving work, told her he was a police officer and forced her into her car. The 20-year old woman told police they drove to a different location where he raped her in the back seat.

Grant immediately pleaded not guilty to the new charge. He has already pleaded not guilty to six felony charges of rape, attempted rape and burglary that were filed last month. Prosecutors say he targeted Asian women who worked at massage parlors in Seattle, Shoreline, and Bellevue.

In court Thursday, prosecutors argued against any bail reduction, terming the evidence against Grant “staggering,” calling him a flight risk and a threat to the community.

“That issue can be reduced to a risk of zero,” countered defense attorney Richard Hansen “if he is precluded from going to massage parlors, if he is confined to his home, if he is on electronic home detention.”

In reducing bail, Judge Mary Yu did order electronic home detention, banned travel outside Washington and also ordered Grant to stay away from the Seattle law firm where he had been a partner. He is allowed to access the Internet, but only for using email.