More charges filed against Moses Lake rape suspect

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man who allegedly raped and assaulted a woman several times in 2015 is facing additional charges.

Grant County prosecutors previously charged Michael S. Padgett, of Moses Lake, in Grant County Superior Court with one count of first-degree rape and two counts of second-degree rape. On Monday Deputy Prosecutor Kate Mathews petitioned the court to allow the filing of more charges against Padgett, after she said witness interviews brought new facts pertaining to the case to light.

The court granted the filing of additional charges of second-degree assault – strangulation, second-degree assault – poison, intimidating a witness, harassment – threats to kill and unlawful imprisonment.

The victim in the case claims during one instance Padgett forcibly injected her with an unknown drug. The victim said she became partially incapacitated and it was then that Padgett raped her and video recorded it. The woman says she believes at least one other person showed up at the scene of the rape while she was incapacitated.

A sexual assault nurse examiner reportedly found significant bruises on the victim, which are believed to have stemmed from serious physical assaults. No conclusive evidence of rape was found.

In a separate incident the victim told police Padgett threatened her with a knife and demanded oral sex. She claimed Padgett was wearing gloves that smelled of chemicals and he held them over her mouth and nose. The victim says she protested and Padgett struck her and raped her.

In a third incident, Padgett allegedly beat and choked the woman. He then reportedly pinned the victim down, injected her with drugs and raped her again. The nurse examiner reportedly found marks consistent with strangulation on the victim.

The victim claims during a number of the attacks Padgett had on blue latex gloves. Police reportedly recovered several blue latex gloves at Padgett’s residence during a search warrant.

The victim also claimed Padgett may have poisoned her. She relayed an incident in which the air conditioning unit was turned on and she could smell an acidic odor. She says she turned the AC off and left the residence, but Padgett took her back into the house and turned the AC back on. Samples were taken from the vents of the residence and sent to the Washington State Patrol’s crime lab for analysis.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.