Jury: Man should be detained

A 12-person jury found that a former Cathlamet man is a violent sexual predator who should be detained despite having completed sentences for his crime.

The State of Washington brought the detention action against Darrell Kent, 60, who had been convicted of sexual assaults against children in Wahkiakum County in 1996 and 2005. He completed his sentence in 2011, but the state argued that Kent hadn't changed and would likely offend again.

The jury was asked, "Has the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Darrell Kent is a sexually violent predator?"

The jury unanimously agreed in issuing its verdict that the state had proven its case.

Kent's attorney argued that he had changed while incarcerated but continued incarceration prevented him from demonstrating that change.

According to a psychological evaluation provided by the state, "the respondent [Kent] suffers from a mental abnormality as that term is defined in the Revised Code of Washington, . . . specifically, pedophilia."

The report also said the respondent suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. The state claimed that the mental abnormality and personality disorder cause the defendant to have difficulty controlling sexually violent behavior and make him likely to engage in predatory acts unless confined in a secure facility.

Presiding Judge Marilyn Hahn of Cowlitz County signed an order of commitment after hearing the verdict. The order said, "The respondent, Darrell Kent, shall be committed to a special commitment center in Steilacoom, to the custody of Department of Social and Health Services, for control, care and treatment until such time as his mental abnormality and/or personality disorder has so changed that the respondent is safe to be conditionally released to a less restrictive alternative or unconditionally discharged."

A juror who declined to be named gave The Eagle this report: "He [Kent] admits to violating the terms of his release by substance abuse during that period. He was later charged for a second rape of a child. For that case he entered a plea bargain without admission of guilt in order to obtain a reduced sentence.

"During his subsequent incarceration he attended a course on Victim Awareness and stated in testimony that he now realizes his acts were wrong. However, during his general testimony and in his observation of the testimony of victims, he showed no outward signs of remorse. When asked, ‘After you realized you had hurt (a child) did you feel bad?', he responded, ‘I felt bad that I was caught.' When asked what he would like to have been different in the outcome he said, ‘I would like not to have been caught.' He has declined offers for Sex Offender Treatment, and testified that he doesn't believe he needs it."