Bail set at $10,000 for Olympia rape suspect

A 22-year-old Olympia man was arrested Monday after he allegedly raped an acquaintance.

Scott A. Mingus appeared before Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch on Tuesday, and the judge found probable cause for a charge of second-degree rape. Hirsch set bail at $10,000.

Court documents give the following account of the events leading to Mingus’ arrest on Monday:

A woman reported to the Lacey Police Department on Monday that she had been raped by Mingus, whom she had been friends with for about three years. The two had dated briefly about a year before the alleged rape.

The victim told the responding officer that a few days prior, her dogs had gotten into a fight, and that one had killed the other. She said she had been upset about her dog’s death and posted on Facebook that she needed sex or beer to make her feel better. She said that several friends and family members had been in contact with her following the death, and that Mingus invited her over to his apartment.

She went to his apartment, and they talked for a while. The victim reported that Mingus had said she shouldn’t be alone that night, and offered to stay at her house. She agreed.

When they arrived at the home, the victim gave Mingus a tour. He noticed an unopened box of condoms on her dresser. The victim said she told Mingus that they would not be having sex that night. She said he answered, “Well, not tonight.”

Mingus and the victim watched a movie together, then went to bed. The victim said she told Mingus at least twice before going to sleep that they wouldn’t be having sex, and they slept under separate blankets on the same bed.

She said that at about 7 a.m., she woke up to Mingus having sex with her. She said she asked him to get off of her, and he did. She later asked him if he had used a condom and he said he didn’t. She went to the hospital to have a rape kit performed.

The officer contacted Mingus, who said he and the victim had sex while they were both sleeping, and he stopped when she told him to. Mingus was arrested and taken to the Thurston County Jail.

In another case, Mingus had pleaded guilty to one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes in August and was given a suspended sentence of 364 days in jail — meaning he wouldn’t serve the sentence as long as he didn’t violate the terms of the sentence for two years.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Bail set at $10,000 for Olympia rape suspect."