Extra-long term sought for rape, kidnap suspect

Sat., Sept. 23, 2006

By John Craig johnc@spokesman.com

Stevens County Prosecutor Jerry Wetle moved this week to seek above-standard punishment for a man accused of raping and kidnapping a Chewelah, Wash., woman and forcing her to be naked in public.

Wetle filed a motion Thursday to amend the charges against 26-year-old Gregory Lee Hyde, adding allegations of deliberate cruelty and invasion of privacy.

Addition of those aggravating factors could open the door to extra punishment — up to the statutory maximum of life in prison.

The motion is to be heard Wednesday if a judge finds Hyde mentally competent to stand trial.

Wetle contends two existing counts of first-degree rape were aggravated by invasion of privacy when Hyde entered the victim’s bedroom while she was sleeping. A first-degree kidnapping was aggravated by forcing the woman to leave her home naked, according to Wetle.

Charging documents filed last November, three days after the alleged crimes, say Hyde took off his clothes and covered his head with his boxer shorts before waking up the woman and raping her twice after forcing her to strip.

The woman told police she recognized Hyde when his shorts fell off his head. At that point, court documents say, Hyde ordered the naked woman to drive them to a local cemetery.

She told officers she knew Hyde carried a knife and believed him when he told her several times that he intended to kill her. So she punched the accelerator, drove through a fence, crashed into a house and fled on foot.

Hyde quickly tackled the woman, put his hand over her mouth and pulled her into a yard, according to charging documents.

Neighbor Joe Leicht said he went to investigate the crash and saw a man struggling with a nude woman.

He told police the woman yelled, “Help, he’s trying to kill me,” while the man yelled, “She’s crazy.” Then, Leicht told authorities, the man released the woman and ran.

Court documents say another witness, Jordan Tilla, had been at Sporty’s Tavern with Hyde and a couple of friends. After parting from Hyde, Tilla reportedly drove to the alleged victim’s home and was parked outside when he saw the naked woman come out and drive away with Hyde.

Tilla soon heard two loud crashes nearby and went to investigate. He said he tracked down Hyde and tackled him after the woman told him Hyde had raped her, according to court documents.

Police said two other men were helping Tilla hold Hyde when they arrived.

Officers reported that Hyde said the woman began to “freak out” after they had consensual sex.

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