State Witness Drops Protection Order and Volunteers to Help Nikita's Defense
Defense filings revealed cracks in state's broad human trafficking case; two women drop protection orders against Nikita after private investigator contacts them
“He’s the type of guy I would want to be the father to my kids one day and plan on being with forever.” - Nikita’s current girlfriend, 19.
“No, they didn’t threaten me, but they may if they find out I’m not on their side about this. I think that I was not compensated fairly, but I was not trafficked or forced or coerced. I think that what happened, I felt like a victim, but I think he is being charged unfairly. I don’t know anything about the business, but if I can help with Nikita’s case, let me know.” - named victim H.Z.
SEATTLE — Defense motions filed in King County Superior Court reveal significant cracks in the state’s high-profile human trafficking case against 21-year-old former Bothell High School basketball star Nikita Tyukalo.
According to the defense’s 17-page bail motion obtained by J425, one of the four named victims central to the state’s prosecution of Tyukalo told a private investigator that she was never trafficked, forced, or coerced, that Tyukalo is being charged “unfairly,” and that she wants a court-issued protection order against him dropped so she can assist in his legal defense.
The defense motion, filed June 25, 2026, by Mercer Island defense attorney Court Will of Will & Will, PLLC, also sought to drastically reduce Tyukalo’s bail from $5 million to $100,000. This motion was ultimately denied, with the court keeping bail at $5 million after a named victim showed up in person and argued against Tyukalo’s release. The six-foot-seven former prep basketball star was arrested on June 4 following a lengthy investigation involving Bellevue, Kirkland and federal resources. Tyukalo was formally charged on June 8 with four counts of second-degree human trafficking, one count of leading organized crime, and one count of money laundering.
Read all of our Nikita reporting here.
Alleged Victim Denies Being Trafficked, Offers to Help Defense
The centerpiece of the defense filing is a previously-unreported investigative document prepared by D.A. Snider of Crossroads Investigations. Snider identified himself as a “former law enforcement officer with 35 years of investigative experience”. Snider opens with a discussion of named victim H.Z., who was the subject of a protection order, and remains listed as a victim and witness in the state’s case.
But according to Snider’s report, H.Z. is more interested in helping Nikita as opposed to testifying against him. Snider said that state’s witness initiated contact because she was “displeased because a protection order had been put into place between herself and Mr. Tyukalo” without her knowledge or consent. During a 38-minute phone conversation on June 12, H.Z. stated she desired to
