New Law Sought After Girl’s Death Group Wants Sex Offenders Put In Jail Right After Conviction

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to change the system, said North Side neighbors who gathered Saturday at Ridgeview Christian Center one month after Rachel Carver’s murder.

About 60 residents, city officials and state legislators endorsed a fledgling bill that aims to jail convicted sex offenders immediately after conviction. This, they say, would eliminate offenders’ opportunities to rape or murder while they’re awaiting sentencing.

The bill might have saved Rachel’s life, they said.

Police arrested the 9-year-old Spokane girl’s uncle, Jason Wickenhagen, for first-degree murder last month after a countywide search for her. Wickenhagen, Rachel’s 23-year-old legal guardian, was awaiting sentencing for a 1994 conviction for indecent liberties.

“People are frustrated. They’re very, very upset,” said Rep. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia, chairman of the House Law and Justice Committee.

“They’re coming together in churches, communities and schools to see where the system went wrong and how to fix that system,” Sheahan said.

Sheahan and neighborhood advocates who spoke during an open microphone session were overwhelmingly supportive of the still unnamed bill being drafted by Rep. Mark Sterk, R-Spokane. Under the draft, even first-time sex offenders would go immediately to jail upon conviction.

The bill also would prohibit newly convicted sex offenders who aren’t jailed from immediately returning to homes with young children, adopting foster children or becoming legal guardians for minors.

An exasperated Bud Jacobs spoke for many. The North Side resident said he was fed up with lengthy appeals and a seemingly endless list of perpetrator rights.

“We’ve asked judges, legislators, police and counselors to change the law, but everyone says their hands are tied,” said Jacobs, chairman of North Spokane United We Stand.

“We’re not going to tolerate any more ‘We’ll look into it.’ We’re demanding changes now,” Jacobs said.

During a separate interview, Sterk emphasized that the draft does not intend to strip away constitutional rights of people arrested for sex crimes.

“We’re not talking about jailing a person who was just charged. This person is already convicted by a jury of his peers and is dangerous to society at large,” Sterk said.

Panelists from Child Protective Services and the county prosecutor also urged Spokane families to adopt foster children who often have no choice but to return to potentially dangerous homes. Among other suggestions, residents and panelists advocated:

Wrongful death actions to be taken against public officials (including judges, prosecutors and parole officers) who release sex offenders who then commit murder.

No plea bargaining for sex crimes.

Publicizing the names and addresses of convicted sex offenders via a nationwide, Internetaccessible database and cable local-access channels.

Beefed-up interstate tracking of convicted offenders, out-ofstate legal guardians and fostercare placement.

, DataTimes