Rape Trial Of Furloughed Man Begins

A Spokane County jury began hearing evidence Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl last summer.

James Jones, 46, is facing two counts of rape for allegedly forcing the teenager to have sex with him Aug. 9 in a garage near the girl’s East Central neighborhood home.

Jones’ arrest sparked a public outcry after county prosecutors acknowledged Jones was furloughed from jail three days before the alleged attack. He had been facing other criminal charges.

The controversy forced several changes, including the demotion of Kathryn Lee, the prosecutor who recommended Jones’ release. The prosecutor office also adopted a policy against recommending furloughs.

In initial testimony Wednesday, the alleged victim said Jones forced her into a garage while she was walking to a neighborhood store.

The attack allegedly occurred in that garage, owned by Jones’ mother, in the 1200 block of East Newark.

Defense attorney Mark Hannibal told the jury in his opening statement that Jones wasn’t near the garage at the time of the alleged attack.

The trial is expected to end Friday.

, DataTimes