Ex-cop admits he raped two girls
Published 10:18 pm Monday, December 29, 2008
EVERETT — A former Soap Lake police officer admitted Monday that he raped a young relative and the girl’s mentally disabled friend.
Kenneth L. Lacey, 33, faces more than 13 years in prison for child rape.
He pleaded guilty in Snohomish County Superior Court to first-degree child rape involving an 11-year-old relative and third-degree child rape involving a 14-year-old girl.
Lacey first came to the attention of law enforcement in 2006 after he chatted online with an undercover federal agent, according to court papers. The agent reported that Lacey admitted he was having sex with a young girl and sent photographs of a girl to the agent.
Everett police launched an investigation and spoke with the girl, who didn’t disclose any sexual assaults.
Lacey told police he’d sent messages to the undercover agent but denied raping the girl. The investigation was closed and no charges were filed.
Then in September 2008, a 14-year-old special-education student told a school counselor she’d been sexually assaulted by Lacey while she was at a sleep-over at Lacey’s Everett apartment.
The girl told investigators he raped her twice that night. The next day she spoke with her friend who disclosed that Lacey had been sexually assaulting her since she was 6.
The girl told police the 6-foot, 7-inch tall man sexually assaulted her about once a month when her mother was not home, according to court papers.
She also told investigators that Lacey had taken pornographic pictures of her.
Lacey is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 24.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
