Spokane man makes first appearance in alleged rape of Vancouver woman

A transient man who allegedly attacked and raped a woman who was walking to her mother’s residence in February 2017 made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court.

Damdee Soungpanya, 39, whose last known address was in Spokane, appeared on a warrant for second-degree rape. He entered a not-guilty plea, and a trial date was set for Dec. 17. Judge John Fairgrieve set Soungpanya’s bail at $150,000.

On Feb. 18, 2017, the victim was intoxicated and walking to her mother’s residence when a man hit her from behind and sexually assaulted her, she said. The victim did not know the assailant , she said, and told him “no” as he assaulted her. She said she didn’t have a clear recollection of the assault, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

However, the victim participated in a sexual assault exam, which resulted in DNA being matched to Soungpanya, the affidavit states.

Court records show Soungpanya has criminal convictions in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Utah. He has pending criminal cases in Idaho and Spokane for possession of a controlled substance and second-degree assault, respectively. Both cases are from earlier this year.