Man guilty of rape; defense said he paid for sex

A jury convicted a 19-year-old Spokane man Friday of a rape that occurred earlier this year in downtown Spokane. The case was solved just minutes after it occurred when the victim saw the suspect riding his bicycle near the crime scene.

The jury deliberated just a few hours Thursday and Friday morning before finding Anthony Parks guilty of second-degree rape. Prosecutors had charged Parks with the more serious crime of first-degree rape, but the jury found him not guilty of that offense.

In addition, the jury exonerated Parks of a first-degree robbery charge in connection with the same incident on March 26, which took place near First Avenue and Cowley Street.

“I’m pleased with the conviction,” Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Ed Hay said. “I respect it when juries make difficult decisions.”

Parks’ attorney, Brooke Hagara, had no comment following the verdict. Parks is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. on Aug. 16 before Superior Court Judge Robert Austin.

Parks, who has no previous felony convictions, faces anywhere from about six years to life in prison, Hay said. He explained that Austin will set a minimum sentence, but Parks will then go before the state’s Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board, which will decide whether Parks should spend more time in prison.

“To keep him longer than the low end of the sentence, (board members) have to determine that he is likely to re-offend,” he said.

Parks will be eligible to receive sex offender counseling while in prison. “I’m certain what he does with that will be relevant” to the board’s release decision, Hay said.

Parks was convicted of approaching a woman on March 26 and forcing her into a secluded alley and raping her.

The woman, who suffered a cut on her hand and bruising to her lower extremities, went to a convenience store at First Avenue and Division Street and called 911. As she spoke with a Spokane police officer, she saw Parks ride by on his bicycle.

Officer Devin Eriksen responded and found Parks riding away on his bicycle. Eriksen stopped Parks and asked him about the reported rape, which he denied.

A rape kit was performed and body fluids found on the victim came back as a match to Parks, Hay said.

Hagara argued in court that her client paid the woman $30 for consensual sex, and the next thing he knew police were coming after him.