The man known as Spokane's notorious South Hill Rapist has struck out again in his latest bid to go free. Kevin Coe, now 67 years old, is locked up indefinitely at Washington State's McNeil Island facility for sex criminals.
Acting as his own lawyer, Coe sued the state for keeping him locked up even though he had served his entire prison term - 25 years- for three rapes in the Spokane area in the late 1970s and early 80s. In his latest court action, Coe contended he should have been allowed in his 2008 commitment trial to interview the women he attacked. He contended the court's refusal to allow the interviews violated his rights, although he failed to say what purpose the interviews would have served.
Coe had gambled that he would be set free after he served his full prison sentence, but the state hauled him back into court, contending that he suffered from a mental abnormality or personality disorder which would make him likely to attack women again. McNeil Island holds about 300 men deemed likely to re-offend.
Although Coe was found guilty of three attacks, he's widely believed to have raped or assaulted as many as 32 women in the Spokane area.