By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors yesterday charged 25-year-old Joel L. Kaech with multiple felonies in connection with weekend incidents involving alleged sexual assaults of a Longview woman.
The Salkum man was arrested on Sunday, brought before a judge on Monday and then made another court appearance yesterday afternoon.
[1]Joel L. Kaech
Kaech is charged with two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree kidnapping and one count of felony harassment. Harassment has a maximum penalty of five years, but the other offenses carry a possible life sentence.
The 32-year-old woman spoke with police on Saturday night near the Goodwill store in Centralia, saying she had run away from Kaech at the skate park across the street.
She spoke of she and a mutual friend being picked up by Kaech in Longview, and Kaech kicking the friend out of the car and then an unspecified period of time in which the two drove to several places in Lewis County.
Charging documents describe the events as occurring on or about and between Friday and Saturday.
On Monday afternoon, a Lewis County Superior Court judge ordered the defendant held in the Lewis County Jail and continued his preliminary appearance one day while prosecutors made a charging decision.
Kaech mouthed off the to the judge, and was held in contempt Monday afternoon. Judge James Lawler ordered a no-bail hold and gave Kaech 60 days lock up as a penalty for his behavior.
Yesterday afternoon at the start of his hearing Kaech apologized to the judge for his attitude the day before.
Lawler thanked him, told him he had been way out of line, and then decided to reduce the contempt time to 10 days.
Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke said Kaech is unemployed and she believed he qualified for a court appointed lawyer. Chris Baum was set to represent him.
Lewis County Prosecutor Sheila Weirth requested and was granted a sexual assault protection order for the alleged victim
Kaech is being held on $500,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow.
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For background, read “Rape investigation: Salkum man held with no bail, no charges” from Monday February 1, 2016, here [2]