SEATTLE, WA — A serious procedural oversight at King County Superior Court has resulted in the accidental release of a convicted rapist, drawing public scrutiny and a rapid response from authorities.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO), Noel D. Stepney, who was convicted of Second-Degree Rape on June 11, was mistakenly allowed to post bond and leave custody despite being ineligible for bail under Washington law.
A Conviction That Should Have Ended in Custody
Stepney, a repeat offender with 33 prior charges and convictions involving domestic violence, theft, drug offenses, and attempted escape, was supposed to be held without bail following his rape conviction. However, on July 26, Stepney successfully posted a $75,000 bond, which had originally been set pretrial.
“This should not have happened,” said Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the KCPAO, in an interview with The Jason Rantz Show. “He should have been remanded on a no-bail hold after being convicted of a serious violent offense and facing a minimum sentence of 159 months.”
Legal Oversight and Miscommunication
Under state law, individuals convicted of Second-Degree Rape are not eligible for release on bail between conviction and sentencing. The court, prosecution, and defense are all responsible for ensuring such laws are enforced at trial. However, in Stepney’s case, no formal order was submitted to remand him into custody after his conviction.
“Defense counsel didn’t raise the requirement, nor did the case prosecutor present an order to the court,” McNerthney explained. “As such, the defendant’s pretrial bail remained in place.”
A spokesperson for the King County Superior Court confirmed the error in a separate statement:
“No order was presented by the State to the Court remanding the Defendant, and thus the original conditions of release remained in place.”
Stepney had been in custody throughout the trial and did not post bail for over a year—until after his conviction.
Warrant Issued After Release
Once the prosecuting attorney’s office realized the oversight, they moved swiftly. On July 28, the KCPAO requested and received a bench warrant for Stepney’s arrest, with no bail permitted. Authorities say police are now actively working to locate and re-arrest him.
Disturbing Details of the Crime
The rape for which Stepney was convicted occurred after he followed his victim into her apartment, then assaulted and raped her, according to court documents. He threatened to kill her dog and cause further harm if she reported the incident.
DNA evidence collected at the scene matched samples from Stepney obtained while he was held at the King County Jail in 2023, during which time he was also under investigation for two additional alleged sexual assaults.
Public Backlash and Institutional Accountability
The case has sparked criticism of both the judicial and prosecutorial handling of violent crime in King County. Legal analysts and members of the public are raising concerns about how such a critical failure in courtroom procedure could occur in a high-stakes conviction like this.
The KCPAO emphasized that this was an error of omission, not intention, and acknowledged the shared responsibility among prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the court.
Conclusion
The mistaken release of Noel Stepney, a convicted rapist with a long criminal history, has alarmed the community and prompted swift action to correct the error. While a bench warrant is now in place, the focus remains on tracking Stepney down and holding him accountable—this time without procedural lapses.
As the search continues, questions loom over the systemic safeguards that failed in this case—and whether similar gaps could risk public safety in the future.
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