Bail set at $100,000 for Olympia rape suspect

Bail was set at $100,000 for a transient man accused of raping a woman in his tent in the woods.

David James Damon Alexander, 35, appeared Monday in Thurston County Superior Court. Charges are being filed for one count of first-degree rape with serious physical injury and one count of second-degree assault. Arraignment is set for Oct. 6.

Judge James Dixon noted that the charge represents a strike offense under the state’s persistent offender law, and that Alexander already has two prior convictions for strike offenses. If convicted of a third strike, Alexander would face life in prison without parole.

Court documents give the following account:

Alexander and the victim, a 21-year-old female, had been hanging out in downtown Olympia last Wednesday when they decided to ride to Alexander’s tent. Once they arrived at the tent in the woods off Martin Way, the woman was looking at her phone, and Alexander became angry because he thought she was talking to another man. He allegedly threatened to kill the woman, then punched her in the face.

Alexander is accused of then raping the woman inside the tent despite her pleas to stop. He went to sleep after the assault, and the victim stayed at the tent because she was afraid to disturb him or make him angry. In the morning, the victim left the tent and reported the assault to police.

The victim was treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital, which confirmed she had a broken jaw.

Alexander was arrested just before 11 p.m. Friday. He told law enforcement that he and the victim were extremely drunk, and that she came on to him when they got to the tent. He denied doing anything against the victim’s will and also denied hitting her or threatening her.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Bail set at $100,000 for Olympia rape suspect."