News brief: Delay plagued rape case ends with guilty verdict

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A jury of six men and six women found Leo B. Bunker III of Winlock guilty as charged in a rape case in which doctors told the victim the stress of testifying could kill her because of her heart condition.

The victim took the witness stand earlier this week and returned to the Chehalis courtroom this afternoon to hear the verdict.

Bunker, 53, testified on his own behalf denying her allegations that he physically abused her during their short marriage in late 2011. He said he was impotent and couldn’t have done what she said, according to his attorney Michael Underwood.

A first trial that began in January ended in a mistrial when Bunker, who was diagnosed with throat cancer after his arrest, caused a daylong recess because of his illness and then the following day the judge took ill.

The former log truck driver was found guilty of  two counts of second-degree rape, one count of harassment and two counts of violating a protection order. The jury deliberated about three and half hours.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler ordered him held without bail pending sentencing.
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For background, read “Lewis County rape case plagued with delays hits another hurdle” from  Friday May 31, 2013, here

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 6th, 2013 at 7:00 pm and is filed under News briefs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “News brief: Delay plagued rape case ends with guilty verdict”

  1. There's coffee & maple bars says:
    Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    ANOTHER former log truck driver convicted on a rape charge?
    Must be something about the phallic symbolism with the logs or something.

  2. BustyBabe says:
    Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 11:09 am

    I HOPE THIS MONSTER IS LOCKED UP FOR YEARS,AND THEN RIGHT BEFORE HIS RELEASE,HES KILLED BY ANOTHER INMATE,,,OH HECK,LET HIM OUT IN RANDLE….IVE GO5T THE GUN..WHOS GOT THE AMMO??