Moses Lake man convicted of burglary, third-degree rape

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man is facing at least 31 months in prison after walking into a woman's home and raping her.

A Grant County jury found Stephen J. Hosszu, 67, guilty of first degree burglary and third degree rape after deliberating for 36 minutes.

Hosszu is subject to an indeterminate sentence because of the crimes. When he is sentenced, a judge will determine the minimum time he will serve, Prosecutor Angus Lee stated.

"Once that minimum time is completed he becomes eligible for parole if the Department of Corrections determines parole is appropriate," Lee stated. "If the Department of Corrections does not grant parole his case is reviewed every two years for life or until he is released, so it is possible that he will spend the rest of his life in prison. If he is ever released he will be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections for life. This type of sentence is reserved for very serious cases."

Hosszu entered a neighbor's residence through an open garage door, while the victim was in the kitchen making jam, according to a police report. He walked up behind the woman, put a hand on her shoulder and made a sexual advance toward the woman, and raped her.

The victim, initially shocked, managed to get away from Hosszu, and escaped the residence through a back door.