By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Instead of going to trial next week for rape and kidnapping, a 25-year-old Salkum resident was sentenced to 60 days in jail and given credit for 60 days already served.
Joel L. Kaech was arrested on Jan. 31 after a 32-year-old woman reportedly ran away from Kaech at the skate park across Harrison Avenue in Centralia and made contact with police.
She spoke of she and a mutual friend being picked up by Kaech in Longview, and Kaech kicking the friend out of the car and then an unspecified period of time in which the two drove to several places in Lewis County, during which she was sexually assaulted.
Joel L. Kaech / File photo
Kaech was initially charged with two counts of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of felony harassment and possession of methamphetamine.
Yesterday, all the charges but the drug offense were dismissed at the request of the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said they want to prosecute the case, but they’ve lost touch with the victim.
While she was initially cooperative, they can’t find her, Meagher said.
“We just couldn’t do it, and we were up against speedy trial (rules),” he said.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be refiled at a later date, Meagher said.
He spoke of the pressures placed on such victims, that make it difficult to follow through with the criminal proceedings. He also noted how keeping connected with victims is something the office spends a tremendous amount of time on.
“I hope she’s okay, and I hope she checks in with us,” he said.
Kaech pleaded guilty yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine and was ordered to make monthly payments on $2,300 worth of fines. He’s already served his 60-day sentence.
The judge found chemical dependency contributed to the crime and also ordered him to undergo an evaluation and comply with treatment. Kaech will be on community custody for 12 months.
He remains confined in the Lewis County Jail without bail today however for something described on the jail’s roster as “other agency hold.”
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For background, read “Rape investigation: Salkum man held with no bail, no charges” from Monday February 1, 2016, here
Stefanie Goodrich,
Well do I have some news for you. Officer Lowrey spent $16,000 dollars to get a restraining order against me. That only went into effect for 1 year while he was off duty. The order expired on March 30, 2016. It took four judges to hear the case because I made everyone of them recuse. It also costed the city of Centralia nearly $1,800 dollars because they had to pay all of their Officers witness fees to testify. So I think you don’t know jack shit about my performance because you weren’t even there. And the real one who doesn’t know what they are talking about is you.
Stefani I didnt get to see his performance in the Lewis County Kangaroo Court. Is there a video you could provide or was it The Lewis County Court Rail Road Injustice system as usual. You know at least Bo has the balls to point out corruption. We all know police are just out of control these days, Centrali is no exception. Filming cops on duty is a public right, since the police have no recording devices on duty here. So with police corruption at an all time high. I see Bo as a eye piece into the hidden world of police corruption. Thin Im talking BS. Go to Photography Is Not A Crime .com or PINAc.com for short. Read some of the factual articles and then decide for yourself. In fact YouTube does a great job to educate people about police brutality and corruption. There are bad cops everywhere and the Lowery’s need two body cameras one for each brother. So if you think the police are great good but the majority of Americans kniw the truth. Who in their right mind would allow an Agencey to Investigate themselves. Its like if I robed a bank go to jail and then Investigate myself to see If I committed a crime. This is Exactly what the police do. Thank God for video cameras on Cell Phones. The tide of police corruption is turning. Police Officers are people with car payments, Debt, addictions, mental problems, Anger, self control issues and are in fact Human Beings. Allowing them to pin a shiney star on their chest olny makes them Power Hungry and out of control. Its been proven over and over again that any type of control over someone always leads to abuse. Good job Bo my hats off to you. The rest of the Arm Chair computer commentors only open my eyes to who and what they really are. Pig Lickers……Thats Pinac.com for the Fluoride infected people that wont bother to even check out the site. Fluoridate the public keep em dumbed down over tax them and raise their electric bills. Welcome to. The Prison Planet.
Mr Rupert is a wannabe lawyer. Did you see his performance when Officer Lowrey had a hearing against him for a restraining order? Needless to say the officer got the order.
Bo always thinks he knows what’s going, when in fact he is totally in the dark. he has not a clue what he is talking about or why even makes such stupid accusations. I’ve heard rumors that his involvement with law enforcement covers both sides of the fence…
Mr. Rupert,
In what way is dismissing without prejudice a ‘trick’? How does this amount to corruption? When such allegations are offered you should provide facts. You seem to have the inside track on this particular case….do you? Are you an employee of the prosecutors office. Please list your credentials and source of your very specific allegations.
Wow what a joke. This case looks just like the Waggoner case. Twice the hype and no Caffeine, well in this case no Meth. So basicly the so called victim is a stone cold tweeker off on another bender, she must not be that traumatized over the alleged rape. Wouldnt doubt if she’s not down at the Truck Stop honing her Lot Lizard skills in the back of a Peter Built as we speak.
Hmmmmmm……so a woman screams rape and then disappears and doesn’t even bother to help aid her supposed attacker responsible???? Something very fishy thereI would say. Of course Brad Meager dismissed without prejudice, that’s Lewis County’s favorite trick! The corruption never ends!!!! Someone really needs to run against Johnathan Meyer in 2018. At this point I would even vote for a Democrat before I would him.