Sex offender gets 1st trips off island

Associated Press

TACOMA — In the past three weeks, David Wrathall has visited his therapist, opened a checking account and made a shopping trip.

Those all would be unremarkable accomplishments, except that Wrathall is the first convicted sex offender housed at the Special Commitment Center halfway house on McNeil Island, and the first making escorted trips to the mainland.

"This is new ground for everyone," said Pierce County sheriff’s detective Sgt. Keith Barnes. "The public has been against allowing these people off the island in the first place."

Wrathall, 35, was convicted in 1995 of second-degree kidnapping in an incident involving a Snohomish County boy, and of indecent liberties in 1985 for assaulting two boys in Seattle. He is registered as a Level 3 sex offender, marking him as potentially violent and likely to reoffend.

Since being placed at the facility in early December, Wrathall has made trips into the cities of Steilacoom, Lakewood and Tacoma. No incidents have been reported.

The halfway house, officially called the Secure Community Transition Facility, eventually will house 19 convicted sex offenders. The facility is operated by the state Department of Social and Health Services.

The halfway house is a compromise that springs from a long-running conflict over what to do with sex predators who have served their criminal sentences but are deemed likely to reoffend.

A federal judge has ruled the state cannot simply warehouse such offenders in the civil commitment center but must provide a less restrictive alternative for those who make progress in treatment.

The state tried to site smaller halfway houses around Washington, but strong opposition from locals prompted Gov. Gary Locke and the Legislature to opt for a single center on McNeil Island, which already holds a state prison and the special commitment center.

DSHS and area law enforcement officials have developed a plan for off-island offender trips aimed at ensuring public safety and minimizing public worries.

"I feel fairly comfortable that we are on the same sheet of music," Mark Davis, facility director for the halfway house, told The News-Tribune of Tacoma.

Under the visiting guidelines:

  • The public must be notified any time a sexual offender is released into the halfway house program.

  • Any time sex offenders leave the island, they must be accompanied by a DSHS escort. Davis said the escorts will be trained in police response by the Lakewood sheriff’s detachment.

  • A weekly schedule of the residents’ whereabouts will be given to local police departments. The schedule will contain all routes and stops as well as the name and phone number of the escort.

    "We have to know exactly where they’re going and how they’re going to get there," said Lakewood assistant chief Rick Adamson.

    Besides being escorted, halfway house travelers will be electronically monitored. Barnes said a global positioning system is in the works to help track movements.

    "There are always going to be safety concerns for us," he said. "The true test will come when we have more residents."

    Davis was optimistic that the strict monitoring guidelines would prevent any problems.

    "My hope is that in a year or so, people will have forgotten us," he said.

    Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
    Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

    The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

    x
    Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

    The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

    The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
    Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

    The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
    Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

    The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

    Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

    The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

    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.