Serial rapist's new freedom unsettles neighbors
KING COUNTY, Wash. -- One of the state's most notorious rapists has been allowed to live among local families, and some wonder whether he is receiving adequate supervision.
Joseph Aqui is a level-3 sex offender who served 20 years in prison for raping more than a dozen women before he was committed by the state to McNeil Island.
He has since been released, and now rents a room in a small house in Lake Forest Park.
Last month, Aqui, 53, was allowed to move from a halfway house, where he lived for two years under full supervision, to his new home which he found through a Craigslist search. The Department of Social and Human Services recommended the move to the court, and the court approved it.
But court documents show the Department of Corrections, after having reviewed Aqui's new home and roommate, raised several red flags before the court made its decision.
The DOC report submitted to the court states Aqui has to ride a Metro bus to and from work to his new home, unsupervised, every day. Aqui's history includes several sexual assaults of women he does not know during early morning hours.
In order to make up for the lack of supervision, the report said Aqui was to have an approved route to the bus stop and that his movements would be monitored by an electronic monitoring device for at least the first seven months of living on his own.
As the first person to be conditionally released from the civil commitment program, Aqui is required to wear the tracking device at all times. However, records show back in 2003, Aqui removed a similar device form his ankle and was sent right back to McNeil Island.
The DOC also raised questions about Aqui's roommate, whom the DSHS had approved.
The 64 year old has received training on how to properly monitor Aqui, but records show he was arrested in May for fourth-degree assault domestic violence. The man no longer lives with his wife.
The DOC added the court-approved roommate doesn't always sleep at home.
Finally, court documents cite Aqui's doctor's last report, which states Aqui admitted to his doctor he had been having increased thoughts about sex.
While the DOC raised those concerns, it remained neutral on its recommendation to the court. The DSHS, on the other hand, recommended the judge approve Aqui's move, calling it "the next logical step."
When asked why Aqui's roommate was deemed fit for keeping an eye on the serial rapist, the DSHS told KOMO News, "he was vetted" by attorneys and the court.
But Aqui's neighbors, who wished to remain anonymous, say they feel like guinea pigs in a high-stakes experiment.
KOMO News tried to talk to Aqui about his neighbors' concerns, but was asked to leave by his roommate.
Joseph Aqui is a level-3 sex offender who served 20 years in prison for raping more than a dozen women before he was committed by the state to McNeil Island.
He has since been released, and now rents a room in a small house in Lake Forest Park.
Last month, Aqui, 53, was allowed to move from a halfway house, where he lived for two years under full supervision, to his new home which he found through a Craigslist search. The Department of Social and Human Services recommended the move to the court, and the court approved it.
But court documents show the Department of Corrections, after having reviewed Aqui's new home and roommate, raised several red flags before the court made its decision.
The DOC report submitted to the court states Aqui has to ride a Metro bus to and from work to his new home, unsupervised, every day. Aqui's history includes several sexual assaults of women he does not know during early morning hours.
In order to make up for the lack of supervision, the report said Aqui was to have an approved route to the bus stop and that his movements would be monitored by an electronic monitoring device for at least the first seven months of living on his own.
As the first person to be conditionally released from the civil commitment program, Aqui is required to wear the tracking device at all times. However, records show back in 2003, Aqui removed a similar device form his ankle and was sent right back to McNeil Island.
The DOC also raised questions about Aqui's roommate, whom the DSHS had approved.
The 64 year old has received training on how to properly monitor Aqui, but records show he was arrested in May for fourth-degree assault domestic violence. The man no longer lives with his wife.
The DOC added the court-approved roommate doesn't always sleep at home.
Finally, court documents cite Aqui's doctor's last report, which states Aqui admitted to his doctor he had been having increased thoughts about sex.
While the DOC raised those concerns, it remained neutral on its recommendation to the court. The DSHS, on the other hand, recommended the judge approve Aqui's move, calling it "the next logical step."
When asked why Aqui's roommate was deemed fit for keeping an eye on the serial rapist, the DSHS told KOMO News, "he was vetted" by attorneys and the court.
But Aqui's neighbors, who wished to remain anonymous, say they feel like guinea pigs in a high-stakes experiment.
KOMO News tried to talk to Aqui about his neighbors' concerns, but was asked to leave by his roommate.