EVERETT — An ex-con who has served time for murder and rape might be headed back to prison after another man accused him of a March 1 sexual assault.
Lloyd Eugene McElhiney, who turns 56 Sunday, is being held for investigation of attempted second-degree rape. He appeared Friday in Everett District Court, where he was ordered held on $500,000 bail.
McElhiney was locked up in Arkansas from 1988 to 2000 for first-degree murder after repeatedly shooting and knifing his then-wife. By 2007 he was on parole and living out of his car along the Snohomish River. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree rape of a child. The case involved a 14-year-old Monroe girl and admissions from McElhiney that he’d spent the day shooting up cocaine, court papers show.
The current allegations involve a former inmate McElhiney met while checking in at the Everett corrections department office, as part of his community custody.
The man told Everett police that McElhiney offered to help him land a good-paying job. He called and sent numerous texts. The man agreed to accompany him when McElhiney offered to buy him a hamburger. Afterward, they drove near Lowell and city limits along the Snohomish River.
McElhiney reportedly asked for sex. The man said he declined and said he had to fight off McElhiney, a struggle that lasted about two minutes, according to a probable cause statement police filed in court.
Eventually, they wound up outside the car. The man said he sought help from passersby, telling them he was being attacked. They gave him a ride home.
McElhiney reportedly spoke with police. He admitted asking the man for sex but denied assaulting him.
A public defender on Friday argued there wasn’t evidence of an attempted rape, that McElhiney has a job, and is a good candidate for being released without bail because he is under supervision by state corrections officials.
Judge Tam Bui wasn’t convinced. She said that McElhiney’s recent release from prison argued in support of significant bail.
Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@herald net.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.
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