Child Rapist Gets 12 Years In Prison

A 33-year-old Newcastle man who pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old boy was ordered yesterday to serve 12 years in prison - the highest sentence under standard guidelines.

King County Superior Court Judge Michael Hayden denied Karl Willanger's request for a shorter sentence combined with treatment. Hayden said Willanger's admission to molesting six minors, including two 5-year-olds and one 4-year-old, made him a danger to the community, despite Willanger's assurance that he would not reoffend.

Willanger pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree rape, one of third-degree rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Willanger was arrested in July after his victim, then 13, told his therapist and his mother that Willanger had been molesting him for more than a year.

A search of Willanger's home uncovered photographs of nude teenage males and several videotapes, including Willanger and the 13-year-old Renton youth. Also found were pornographic photos of young males copied off Internet files, sex-oriented magazines and a loaded pistol.

After police sought information from the public about other possible victims, two 18-year-olds came forward. Charges were not filed in their cases because consensual sex with anyone 15 and over is not a crime, said Lisa Johnson, King County senior deputy prosecutor.

Willanger's attorney, Ron Meltzer, offered the judge a medical evaluation recommending his client for special sex-offender sentencing, typically requiring six months of incarceration and three years of treatment.

But Hayden said he would not feel comfortable releasing Willanger from custody so soon.

"I have a hard time believing any of the victims are ever going to get over their psychological problems," he said. ". . . Mr. Willanger sought out vulnerable victims, and they are scarred for life."

Keiko Morris' phone message number is 206-464-3214. Her e-mail address is: kmor-new@seatimes.com