Keeping Coe on ice a win-win for everybody

Lock him up.

Swallow the key.

Then we can all go back to forgetting about Spokane’s Public Enema No. 1 – Kevin Coe.

Unfortunately, the issue of Coe’s freedom is not up to me.

Whether or not Coe is a violent sexual predator will be the subject of a civil commitment trial this fall.

Bummer.

But anyone pulling for keeping this dirt bag caged should be encouraged by the latest development in the case.

Kathleen O’Connor, the Superior Court judge who will preside over the South Hill rapist’s commitment trial, ruled that “21 women on a state list of uncharged rape and indecent liberties can be included in the trial …”

So reported Karen Dorn Steele in a Saturday page one story.

The state likes this development, too.

As Todd Bowers, the assistant attorney general leading the state’s effort to commit Coe, noted: O’Connor’s decision “defined the universe of admissible evidence” that both sides can use.

I know. I know.

The last time I thumped the drum for Coe’s continued incarceration, I caught flak from a number of literalists who tried to school me on the concept of doing your time.

A letter to the editor that was published articulated the philosophy quite well:

“Don’t get me wrong; I don’t condone what the jerk (Coe) did,” explained the writer.

“But he was tried for his crime and served his sentence. All 25 years. Legally, he should be now released.”

Point taken.

But Coe and his legal team played the system like a string section.

He was suspected of 30 rapes, charged with six and convicted of four.

On appeal, all the convictions were overturned.

A new trial nailed Coe on three rape charges.

Two of which were tossed out because witnesses were hypnotized.

In the end, only one charge stuck.

Justice in America.

Ain’t it sweet?

So think of civil commitment as society’s last shot at balancing those justice scales.

Prosecutors must prove that Coe is a menace to society. Then he can remain on ice at McNeill Island, hopefully until he rots.

All told, it would be a win-win for everybody involved.

Society would be safer without Coe wandering around.

And Coe is receiving something he probably cherishes even more than freedom:

Attention.

Coe is a class-A narcissist as much as he is a serial rapist.

So tonight should be as much fun as Christmas Eve to this creep thanks to “Dateline NBC.”

Poor Spokane. We just can’t catch a break on these national news shows.

Serial killer Robert Yates. The weird saga of Mayor Jim West …

Now the South Hill rapist is back to reprise his role as the maudlin martyr.

I almost gagged reading Coe’s quotes in reporter Meghann Cuniff’s synopsis of the Dateline piece.

Exhibit A:

“In terms of just creature comforts, they’d be doing me a favor. The fact of the matter is if I’m released I face extreme poverty, thanks to these people …”

Exhibit B:

“What does it matter if you’re living in Phoenix or Tuscaloosa? It really doesn’t matter at that point. I have absolutely nothing. Nothing. No family, even, anymore.”

Exhibit C: Coe brands the commitment trial a “Hitlerian effort” to get him.

Cue the violins and pass the vomit bags.

You know, on second thought maybe we should let Kevin Coe out.

Yeah. Just long enough to let his victims have a go at him.