Homeless man pleads guilty to Toppenish child rape

YAKIMA — A homeless man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl who had passed out drunk pleaded guilty in Yakima to third-degree child rape.

Vincent Matthew Umtuch, 46, said he pleaded guilty Monday in a deal with prosecutors who agreed to drop a child molestation charge and recommend a sentence of about two years in prison.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports officers found the man on top of the teen last August when they responded to a report of people drinking beer behind a gas station in Toppenish.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

More frequent service coming for Community Transit buses

As part of a regular update to its service hours, the agency will boost the frequencies of its Swift lines and other popular routes.

More than $1 million is available for housing-related programs in Snohomish County, and the Human Services Department is seeking applications. (File photo)
Applicants sought for housing programs in Snohomish County

More than $1 million is available for housing-related programs in… Continue reading

The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)
Snohomish County honored nationally for Index-Galena road repair

The county Public Works department coordinated with multiple entities to repair a stretch of road near Index washed out by floods in 2006.

Birch, who was an owner surrender and now currently has an adoption pending, pauses on a walk with volunteer Cody McClellan at PAWS Lynnwood on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pet surrenders up due to rising cost of living, shelter workers say

Compared to this time last year, dog surrenders are up 37% at the Lynnwood PAWS animal shelter.

Pedestrians cross the intersection of Evergreen Way and Airport Road on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In Snohomish County, pedestrian fatalities continue a troublesome trend

As Everett and other cities eye new traffic safety measures, crashes involving pedestrians show little signs of decreasing.

The Mountlake Terrace City Council discusses the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace public express ongoing ire with future Flock system

The city council explored installing a new advisory committee for stronger safety camera oversight.

Crane Aerospace & Electronics volunteer Dylan Goss helps move branches into place between poles while assembling an analog beaver dam in North Creek on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Adopt A Stream volunteers build analog beaver dams in North Creek

The human-engineered structures will mimic natural dams in an effort to restore creek health in an increasingly urbanized area.

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)
State commission approves rate hike for ferry trips

Ticket prices are set to rise about 6% over the next two years.

I-90 viewed from the Ira Springs Trail in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forrest. Photo by Conor Wilson/Valley Record.
Department of Ag advances plan to rescind Roadless Rule

Rescinding the 26 year-old-law would open 45 million acres of national forest to potential logging, including 336,000 acres of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie.

Olivia Vanni / The Herald Hunter Lundeen works on a backside 5-0 at Cavalero Hill Skate Park on 2022 in Lake Stevens.
Snohomish County Council voted unanimously to donate park to Lake Stevens

The city couldn’t maintain the park when Cavalero Hill was annexed into the city in 2009. Now it can.

Merrilee Moore works with glass at Schack Art Center in Everett, Washington on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Portion of $10M grant boosts Snohomish County arts organizations

The 44 local organizations earned $8,977 on average in unrestricted funds to support fundraising and salaries.

Henry M. Jackson High School on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek family throws $489k into Everett school board races

Board members denounced the spending. The family alleges a robotics team is too reliant on adults, but district reports have found otherwise.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.