Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said his office would take a “firm stand” as a man accused of raping a 74-year-old woman was denied bail Thursday.
Kenneth G. Williams, 69, is charged with first-degree rape and kidnapping after he allegedly wormed his way into the woman’s Southwest Portland apartment by posing as a friendly stranger willing to help carry her heavy load of groceries.
“This office is going to take a firm stand when it comes to these types of cases, and making sure that we are always speaking out very strongly for victims and for the community,” Vasquez said in remarks from his sixth floor office.
Williams was arrested Sunday and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense attorney, Joshua McCain, declined to comment.
A probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutor Quinn Zemel alleges a three-day-long attack beginning Dec. 23 once Williams had made his way inside the apartment building.
The woman had been shopping at a Fred Meyer and had gotten off the bus at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Yamhill Street when she stopped to catch her breath, court documents say.
According to the affidavit, the woman was initially skeptical of Williams’ offer of help due to his shabby appearance, but decided she would be safe in the crowded area. But once he had reached the threshold of her unit, Williams forced the door and then began “barricading” the door with items from his pack, the document alleges.
“Later that night, (Williams) became more aggressive,” the affidavit says. “He would monitor her movements and phone usage over the next two days.”
The woman was repeatedly raped over the three-day period, according to the affidavit.
The woman reported being afraid to scream for help or call 911, and thus acted cordially until she allegedly convinced Williams to leave Dec. 26, Zemel wrote.
The woman spotted Williams again at the Fred Meyer on Sunday and called police, who arrested him.
Williams has a criminal record dating back to the 1970s, with convictions for first-degree robbery and assault. He was on post-release supervision at the time of arrest, Vasquez said.
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