A convicted rapist who was mistakenly released from the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent last month is back in custody after Seattle Police arrested him Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 26, 2025 in North Seattle.
The 50-year-old man was convicted of second-degree rape in July for a 2019 attack inside an abandoned home in South Seattle, according to Seattle Police. He bonded out of the Kent jail on July 26 while awaiting sentencing — an error that allowed him to remain free for more than a month.
After his release, detectives with the Seattle Police Department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit issued an internal alert to officers. Community members later reported sightings of the man in Seattle.
Patrol officers found him around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday near North 141st Street and Linden Avenue North. Police said he initially gave officers a false name, but was identified and arrested.
He was booked back into the King County Jail on a felony bench warrant issued by the King County Superior Court on July 29. Prosecutors said he faces more than 13 years in prison, with sentencing expected in the coming weeks.
Update from King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) confirmed Thursday that the Kent suspect convicted of second-degree rape should not have been released from custody after his trial, citing a missed legal requirement in court.
KCPAO spokesperson Douglas Wagoner said state law requires defendants convicted of second-degree rape to be held in custody until sentencing, but in this case neither the prosecutor nor defense raised the issue, and the judge did not order a remand. The man remained free on $75,000 bail until a bench warrant was issued, and Seattle Police later arrested him. Wagoner said prosecutors have secured a conviction carrying a minimum 159-month sentence, with a sentencing date still to be scheduled.
SPD officials emphasized the case illustrates the importance of coordination between law enforcement agencies and the courts. The department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit continues to support victims of sexual violence through investigations, counseling resources, and victim advocates.
