A Larch Corrections Center inmate who attacked a woman and attempted to rape her while he was serving on a work crew in December was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.
Joseph R. Smith, 28, pleaded guilty last month in Clark County Superior Court to first-degree attempted rape and second-degree assault. Smith was part of a 17-member crew working Dec. 4 to clear land at a job site near 27518 N.E. Bjur Road in Ridgefield, court records show.
Smith has been in custody since 2008 on an assault conviction from Whatcom County. He has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple assaults, one of which involved a weapon, according to the prosecution.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. to the site after a report of an attempted rape. The victim, who was working at the same site for a different agency, said she was taking photos when she noticed one of the inmates walk up behind her. The inmate, later identified as Smith, grabbed her, placed his hand over her mouth and tried to stab her in the neck with a scrench — a tool that combines a wrench and screwdriver— according to a probable cause affidavit.
Smith threw the victim to the ground and attempted to rape her, the affidavit said.
The victim told deputies that Smith became remorseful and stopped. He told her not to tell anyone and then he fled into the woods, court records said. She identified him as her attacker from a lineup.
Smith denied the conduct but later told detectives that he approached the victim from behind and tried to hit her in the head with a wrench but missed. He said the woman fell and he fell on top of her. He denied trying to rape her, the affidavit said.
The victim did not attend Smith’s sentencing. A victim advocate read a statement on her behalf.
“I think Smith is a dangerous man who’s not in control,” the statement read.
Smith’s defense attorney, Jeff Staples, told the court he found it surprising that his client was capable of committing such an act.
“I am sorry for my actions and demeanor that day,” Smith said. He added that he hopes the victim can forgive him and not let this change her view of all men.
“The root of the problem is that you’re a very bad person. You’re a bad person. You’re a monster,” Judge Gregory Gonzales told Smith. “There’s only one place you belong, and that’s prison.”
“You completely destroyed her life,” he told Smith.
Gonzales agreed to follow the attorneys’ previously agreed-upon sentencing recommendation of 10 years in prison. Smith won’t begin serving the new 10-year sentence until he completes his current 10-year sentence for the 2008 assault.
