Convicted, accused Tacoma woman abuser pleads 'not guilty' after WMW viewer tips lead to his arrest in Arizona

Photo of Kylen Wilken-Johnston in court - April 29, 2015

CAPTURE UPDATE April 29, 2015 -- Kylen Wilken-Johnston was booked into the Pierce County Jail on Tuesday and pleaded 'not guilty' to his domestic violence assault charges on Wednesday. He's being held on $40,000 bail. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist says, "This defendant is a repeat offender. Back in 2011 he assaulted his girlfriend. She broke up with him, he found another girlfriend and he brutally assaulted her and then fled the state. Thanks to Washington's Most Wanted viewer tips we were able to track him down in Arizona and now he's here in the Pierce County Jail where he's going to be held accountable." FUGITIVE CAPTURED April 16, 2015 -- Tacoma police say Washington's Most Wanted viewer tips called into Crime Stoppers led to the arrest of Kylen Wilken-Johnston in Avondale, Arizona on Thursday. Avondale police made the arrest and booked him into the Maricopa County Jail after Tacoma detectives worked with the Pierce County Prosecutors Office to get his warrant amended to allow for nationwide extradition.

FUGITIVE WANTED IN TACOMA March 18, 2015 -- A Tacoma woman went out with her friends one night last July. When she came home, officers say her boyfriend, Kylen Wilken-Johnston, walked into her room and threatened to kill her. She told officers she begged him to stop as he choked her until she passed out.  Police say she told them she 'felt her brain was going to explode and her eyes were going to pop out of their sockets.'  She doesn't know how long she was unconscious but he was gone when she came to. The Tacoma Police officer who interviewed her the next day says, 'her eyes were completely red with no white portions visible, the center of her eye appeared distorted, and both of her eyes were black and brown." She was also in a lot of pain and having trouble breathing.

Turns out, Wilken-Johnston already had a felony conviction for Domestic Violence Assault in the 3rd degree. Now, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist has charged him with Domestic Violence Assault in the 2nd degree and Domestic Violence Felony Harassment. His victim says he continues to try to contact her despite a restraining order and he's not showing up for his scheduled court dates. "He's aware of the warrants and he continues to threaten and harass his now ex-girlfriend," says Tacoma police Ofc. Loretta Cool. "She's obviously concerned for her own safety and the safety of her children." Kylen Wilken-Johnston is 37 years old. He's supported himself in the past by working as a bartender in Fife. "Our office appreciates the assistance from Crime Stoppers and Washington’s Most Wanted,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “As a community, we want this defendant in custody.” If you know where Tacoma Police can find him, call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.