Spokane rapist Kevin Coe files for change of venue

Summary

Attorneys for Spokane rapist Kevin Coe are asking that his upcoming civil-commitment trial be moved out of Spokane County, or that jurors from elsewhere be brought in to hear the case.

Story Published: Jul 5, 2008 at 5:55 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:43 PM PST

Spokane rapist Kevin Coe files for change of venue
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Attorneys for Spokane rapist Kevin Coe are asking that his upcoming civil-commitment trial be moved out of Spokane County, or that jurors from elsewhere be brought in to hear the case.

Coe was originally charged in several of a string of rapes that terrorized Spokane in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After appeals, only one conviction ultimately stood, and he finished serving his 25-year prison sentence in 2006.

But the state kept him in custody and is seeking to have him civilly committed indefinitely as a sexual predator likely to offend again.

According to a motion filed late Thursday by Coe's attorneys, and obtained by KHQ-TV, he does not think he can get a fair commitment trial in Spokane County because of extensive publicity about his case.

He wants to be tried elsewhere or have jurors brought in from outside the county.

The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 15 in Spokane County Superior Court.

Coe has steadfastly denied he committed any rapes.