Family of 15-year-old raped in Seattle woods blasts system that freed career criminal with 46 warrants

Joshua V. Kowalczewski, a 36-year-old homeless career criminal with dozens of prior arrests and active warrants across multiple Washington cities, pleaded not guilty to first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping in King County court. The judge set bail at $1 million and granted a protection order for the victim. Kowalczewski remains in custody. However, according to KOMO News, the judge also ordered media outlets not to show the suspect’s face in court because of potential identification issues that might arise during the trial.

Kowalczewski had been accepted into Seattle’s “Drug Prosecution Alternative” diversion program just seven days before the alleged rape — a program that required him to commit no new crimes. “Yet despite that admonition, one week later, the defendant commits this violent sex offense,” prosecutors wrote in court filings.

According to charging documents obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, the victim was standing at the bus stop Sunday morning on her way to school when Kowalczewski approached her and began asking invasive personal questions, including her age and what grade she was in. The girl told him she was 15 and in 10th grade. He repeatedly pressured her to follow him into a nearby wooded area. When she refused, he escalated, allegedly telling her, “You need to come to the forest, right NOW.” Fearing for her safety, the teenager complied.

Once in the woods, Kowalczewski allegedly forced her to the ground, covered her mouth to silence screams, and sexually assaulted her. Charging documents state he told the girl, “I know you want it,” before forcing oral sex on her for approximately 30 seconds. The victim eventually screamed loud enough for nearby construction workers to hear. One witness grew suspicious after seeing an adult man approach what appeared to be a child and then disappear with her into the woods. He later saw the girl emerge crying and terrified as Kowalczewski fled.

Seattle firefighters and medics treated the girl at the scene before transporting her to Seattle Children’s Hospital for a sexual assault examination. Police located surveillance footage showing Kowalczewski near the scene wearing a black beanie and black shirt with a red graphic, matching witness descriptions. Firefighters later spotted him near Aurora Avenue North, where he was allegedly defecating on the sidewalk after burning clothing believed to be linked to the attack.

During questioning, Kowalczewski initially denied speaking with the victim before admitting he approached her because he thought she was “hot.” He acknowledged asking her to go into the woods but denied the sexual assault.

Kowalczewski is no stranger to the justice system. The suspect has 28 prior arrests, 13 convictions, and a staggering 46 lifetime warrants, with nine active warrants across five jurisdictions at the time of his arrest. His record includes convictions for assault, drug possession, theft, DUI, violating protection orders, possessing burglary tools, and criminal trespassing. He had pending cases in King County District Court, Seattle Municipal Court, Edmonds Municipal Court, Olympia Municipal Court, and Puyallup Municipal Court involving drug possession, theft, obstruction, criminal trespass, and weapons-related charges. Prosecutors say the repeat offender has cycled through the system for nearly two decades with little consequence. The case has drawn fresh scrutiny to Seattle’s lenient approach to repeat offenders and diversion programs aimed at keeping low-level criminals out of jail, programs critics argue fail to protect the public when violent predators are involved.

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