SPOKANE -- The man known across Spokane as the South Hill Rapist is trying to appeal his civil commitment sentence. Kevin Coe is trying to become a free man. But at the moment, Coe himself is holding up the appeal process.
A jury committed Kevin Coe to McNeil Island in October of 2008. His attorneys said they would appeal that decision. But a paperwork battle is delaying the appeal. Coe served 25 years for the rape of one woman back in the 1980's. The state proved Coe remains a threat and had him committed. Now Coe wants out.
The Washington State Attorney General's Office says Coe wants the decision to commit him as a sexually violent predator reversed by an appellate court and grant him a new trial.
Coe's defense argued at his last commitment trial that he is not mentally ill. Kevin Coe first tried to file his appeal back in mid-October. But it was 162 pages long which is three times the length the appeals court allows. The court decided two weeks later to allow 100 page brief. But Coe still wants to file all 162 pages. The State Attorney General's Office says that is excessive.
If Coe wins his appeal, there will be a new trial to decide whether to commit him. It's a long shot, but if Coe wins, he will be a free man.
