Convicted felon on parole accused of kidnapping, rape

A convicted felon on parole was arrested in Post Falls Thursday on suspicion of kidnapping and raping his estranged girlfriend.

A woman called the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon to report the assault. She said she went home for lunch and her estranged boyfriend, identified as 38-year-old Billy L. Joslin Jr., grabbed her and forced her into her house before raping her, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

Joslin reportedly drove her back to work before stealing her car, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies searching for Joslin found him hiding in a shop in the 600 block of East Fourth Avenue in Post Falls around 10 p.m. Thursday. Joslin refused to surrender and the SWAT team from the Post Falls Police Department deployed a chemical gas into the shop, forcing Joslin to exit, according to the news release.

In addition to rape and kidnapping Joslin is also facing charges of attempted strangulation, burglary and robbery. He has previously been booked in the Kootenai County Jail 19 times and his convictions include assault, obstructing an officer, unlawful possession of a firearm and drug charges.

Joslin was released on parole early this year after convictions for grand theft, attempted strangulation, domestic violence battery and unlawful possession of a firearm.