Convicted rapist pleads not guilty to locking woman in car, raping her

TACOMA -- A convicted rapist accused locking a woman in his vehicle  earlier this month and raping her pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Jethro Butcher, 30, faces charges of rape and first-degree attempted robbery in Pierce County Superior Court. He is being held in jail in lieu of a $2 million bond.

According to Pierce County Prosecutor's Office charging documents, police were called Aug. 15 to a report of a rape after a woman entered a Pierce County fire station not wearing any pant or underwear and sobbing uncontrollably.

The witness told police she was walking northbound on Pacific Avenue when Butcher pulled over and asked her if she wanted a ride, documents show.

The woman agreed, documents show, but as soon as she got into the car Butcher pulled into an alley, locked the doors and held up a long knife. Butcher demanded money, but the victim said she had none.  Butcher then allegedly demanded she get into the backseat.

Once in the backseat, Butcher allegedly told the woman he "does this every once in a while."

At some point, the victim escaped out the back passenger door and ran for help, leaving her pants in the car. She made it to a nearby fire station where she was given aid and a blanket

A witness to the scene reported spotting the victim running from a car, holding her stomach and screaming for help, Pierce County prosecutors allege. The witness called police,  who located the described vehicle and detained Butcher. After he was detained, detectives allegedly found a steak knife and a box of disposable gloves in a nearby yard, apparently ditched by the suspect.

He was arrested and taken to jail.

Butcher has previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2009. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, he served 12 months in prison.