Snohomish sex offender sentenced to life in prison
SEATTLE -- A convicted sex offender who tried to lure an 11-year-old boy through Facebook will spend the rest of his life in prison.
A Grays Harbor County judge sentenced Joel Alexander Monday morning to life in prison without parole for attempted child rape.
Detectives say Alexander was communicating with an 11-year-old Elma boy via Facebook, but when the discussion took on a sexual tone, the boy's mother stepped in and called police.
Alexander, a level-2 sex offender, was convicted 11 years ago of raping a child. Because of that previous conviction, Alexander was automatically sentenced to life in prison under the state's persistent offender law, which states, "A persistent offender shall be sentenced to a term of total confinement for life without the possibility of release."
While this was the second sex offense conviction for Alexander, prosecutors believe he victimized many more children in both Washington and Oregon.
In 1998, Alexander "admitted to having 17 previous uncharged victims ranging in age from 5 to 16," according to court documents.
In a statement to the court, Grays Harbor County Prosecutor H. Steward Menefee said Alexander is exactly the type of person the persistent offender statute was designed for.
"As the evidence in this case showed, the defendant is not safe to be at large and the only way to offer the community sufficient protection is to incarcerate him for the remainder of his life," the statement reads.
A Grays Harbor County judge sentenced Joel Alexander Monday morning to life in prison without parole for attempted child rape.
Detectives say Alexander was communicating with an 11-year-old Elma boy via Facebook, but when the discussion took on a sexual tone, the boy's mother stepped in and called police.
Alexander, a level-2 sex offender, was convicted 11 years ago of raping a child. Because of that previous conviction, Alexander was automatically sentenced to life in prison under the state's persistent offender law, which states, "A persistent offender shall be sentenced to a term of total confinement for life without the possibility of release."
While this was the second sex offense conviction for Alexander, prosecutors believe he victimized many more children in both Washington and Oregon.
In 1998, Alexander "admitted to having 17 previous uncharged victims ranging in age from 5 to 16," according to court documents.
In a statement to the court, Grays Harbor County Prosecutor H. Steward Menefee said Alexander is exactly the type of person the persistent offender statute was designed for.
"As the evidence in this case showed, the defendant is not safe to be at large and the only way to offer the community sufficient protection is to incarcerate him for the remainder of his life," the statement reads.
I wish the justice dept had the sense to do this the first time before there were 17+ more victims, but at least they got it right this time. That is, if 'life in prison' really means life in prison.
Why in hell are these guys released so they can do it again? Pedophiles are sick, prisions don't cure them. Until a cure is found, they should be monitored very closely. For some reason people think punishment solves everything, well, it doesn't.
Life in prison is a death sentence... why are we SO against simply putting these guys to death I mean hell...what is the good in keeping one like this breathing ... this is ridiculous!
@Freespeech Life in prision is cheaper than death sentence (yes, I know it doesn't look like, but it is, there is actual data). Also, in some cases there are mistakes made, innocent people have been executed by mistake. Finally, I hope some day we can cure people like this, he may not be evil, just sick.
Do people choose to be sexually attracted to children, or are they born that way? They say gay folks are born gay. Are pedophiles born pedophiles?
Hmmm, convicted, and admits prior offenses not charged. Meets my criteria.
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I'll volunteer to put $0.57 worth projectile into his head for him. Save us all thousands of $$$.
call all prison's and tell them that he is coming  so the inmates can get rid of his rotten perverted ass.. then throw him into the sound for the sharks.Â
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Killing is wrong.....life in prison is the correct punishment. Besides, someone will discover his crime and his life will become hell in prison....they really dont like sex offenders in prison.
 @izwideopen I like your idea the best, but if that's not possible, lets just castrate him. Then give him to Bubba for the rest of his life. At least Bubba would be happy.
It's beyond me how, after all we know about sexual predators, we have NOT returned to the ONE method scientifically proven to stop all physical and psychological urges w/ these monsters...full frontal lobotomy. Science and psychologists have agreed that it is the only truly effective measure. Chemical and medical castration do NOT take away the mental capacity of depravity and often the frustrations levied by these predators leads to far more sadistic sexual crimes, however it has been proven lobotomy does. Then these predators are manageable and even capable of of sustaining in a group situation, say in a mental ward. But any person convicted of sexual deviancy deserves life in prison, no doubt about it, because they have handed their victims a life sentence!
Except lobotomy is considered cruel and unusual punishment. You either believe in the law or you dont.
 @Tribbles And currently, the death penalty is still on our books. You either believe in the law or you don't.Â
@takncarabizniz castration removes the body's ability to produce testosterone, which provides the urge and motivation. Without this, they cannot achieve any physical stimulation or gratification. Lobotomies were never used as a method to treat sex offenders.
Pedophilia is not about sexual gratification for the simple act of sex. It's a psychological defect. Pedophiles are aroused by children because that's the way their brain functions. You can't change how they think by castration.
The mother did step in and that's great and lucky, one step further would be to not let an 11 year old have a facebook page. Â Why make it easier for these predators to prey on our children. Â I have an 11 year old son, he does not and will not have a facebook page I can't and don't want to monitor everything.
Life in prison is not long enough. Maybe if his victims are lucky, he will be raped in prison the rest of his life and endure what they went through, only for a lot longer.
Good! Kudos to the mom for monitoring her kid's activities online and stepping in when she did. She saved not only her son from being a victim, but probably countless others. As far as the scumbag who attempts to make children his playthings, I hope he has what is coming to him in prison.
one down...thosands to go....
All I can say is well done Grays Harbor County Judge Sir!
Wow! Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised anymore. But this time, I'm surprised that they're actually giving away a reasonable sentence!
Finally a more reasonable sentence for one of these monsters.
Why bother? Just put down the sick puppy!
Well, that's ONE way to get your room, board, meals for life... This guy is gonna be Bubba's QUEEN too!!! Have a nice life Joel....and Merry Christmas too.
It's unfortunate these sickos need to be caught and convicted twice before getting a life sentence. Â At least this one will no longer be able to harm another child.
 @NWNative i think it was the 17 he admitted too?
When people like this can't control their deviant urges, they are best separated from society permanently.
Good! Hope they make them work hard enough to pay for rent and food in the pen.
 @Komo Dragon Chaingangs need to make a comeback.
@TheTruncheon @Komo Dragon I say we out source our prisoners that have life sentances to prisons in places like Russia, China, Egypt, and Saudi. all vast bastions of egnoring the human rights of prisoners.
 @TheTruncheon the opportunities are endless
 @Komo Dragon lol (make them) do anything is the point !
You have two choices in prison. School or work....no one gets a free ride to just lounge all day for the rest of their lives.