Valley man charged in rapes of 5 women

Spokane County sheriff’s detectives arrested a 46-year-old Spokane Valley man Thursday afternoon on charges that he kidnapped and raped five women.

Pierre D. West is accused of soliciting prostitutes in the East Sprague Avenue area of Spokane, then forcing them to go to his home at 123 N. Locust St. and perform sexual acts under the threat of violence.

The first alleged rape occurred in 2005 and the latest occurred last month.

West has a previous conviction in Pierce County for raping a minor, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.

In one of the local cases, the victim reported escaping from West’s house naked, being picked up by two women who took her to a convenience store, where she put on the few clothes she was able to collect before she escaped and then took a bus back into town.

Reagan said one victim said that West told her he would hunt her down and kill her if she told anyone what he had done.

West is a registered sex offender who was convicted in the 1980s of two rapes, including the rape of the minor.

Neighbor Jeremy Gray said that he knew West was a sex offender but that he thought it was because of a statutory rape case. Gray added that he was surprised by the recent charges because he frequently saw West’s girlfriend at the home.

Reagan said West may have other victims.

“One of the things we learned in our investigation of Robert Yates and his activities involving prostitutes is that they’re not always willing to come forward and divulge to the police acts of violence or acts of crime that are committed against them,” Reagan said.

Yates was convicted of killing multiple prostitutes.

“So I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other victims that have not come forward,” Reagan said.