SPD distributed images from security cameras following the June 29th incident as it asked for the public’s help identifying the suspectThe bizarre Capitol Hill kidnapping case involving the alleged theft of a car with a teen girl inside could land the man accused of the crime in prison for life.
Nathan Huber was charged Thursday with second degree kidnapping and auto theft. Police say the defendant appears to have lucked into a sick situation — encountering a mother exercising on the E Howe stairs and mentioning that her car was still running parked nearby.
When the woman told him her daughter was asleep inside the car and continued her workout, police say Huber hopped in, stole the BMW, and drove away without being noticed, masturbating in front of the girl as he sped through the streets of Seattle, groping his young victim and finally letting her go near an International District park where she was found frantic but not seriously injured.
Prosecutors say the 37-year-old Huber is a registered sex offender after his conviction 20 years ago for attempted rape and a 2005 indecent exposure conviction. “If the defendant is convicted of kidnapping in the second degree with sexual motivation,” prosecutors write, “that conviction will constitute the defendant’s ‘second sex strike’ and the defendant will face a sentence of life without the possibility of parole as a persistent offender.”
Huber was arrested at his Rainier Beach residence after being identified from security images following the Friday, June 29th incident, police say. He is jailed on $1 million bail.
Well good. He needs to go away for a long time. However my opinion of the car owner (which I thought could not go lower) has plummeted. She has to be charged with something.
Crime of speaking to a stranger?
leaving an unaccompanied minor asleep in a running vehicle is a bit dodgy don’t you think?
It is illegal to leave your vehicle unattended and idling; this is a basic rule of the road that those with driver’s licenses are responsible for knowing: “No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon…” RCW 46.61.600. Arguably, it was not unattended since her daughter was still in the car, but then again, she was asleep, so that probably doesn’t count. Still, many people do stupid, even illegal things…that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be “charged with something,” especially where they have been the victims of far worse misbehavior.
Why would ANYONE tell a strange man that their teenage daughter was alone, asleep in her running car? That’s insane.
RIght?! Basically left her daughter open to predators (sleeping in an unlocked car) and then tells predator where to find her. Insane!!! I hope the guy gets locked away for life and the mother wakes up to the ways of the world.
same guy?
https://q13fox.com/2015/03/17/man-accused-of-stealing-from-firefighter-was-wearing-stolen-jacket-when-arrested-documents-say/
Yeah, same guy. This one gives his whole criminal history.
https://q13fox.com/2015/03/16/man-suspected-of-stealing-truck-belongings-from-firefighters-in-town-for-charity-event-arrested/
Looks like a little more than a 20 year old attempted rape charge at play here. This makes at least 7 separate felony convictions (with multiple charges in many). If he went to prison for each one I can’t imagine he’s spent much time out of prison between arrests.
A person who is abducted and raped is seriously injured.
Yes. This.
Not disputing your general point, but technically, rape would require either sexual penetration or sexual contact with the mouth or anus. What is described here—“groping”—probably constitutes molestation, likely child molestation depending on the daughter’s age, but not rape. RCW 9A.44.010(1), (2), RCW 9A.44.040 thru 9A.44.089.
The T-shirt (“Executive Director Because Freakin’ Miracle Worker Is Not An Official Job Title”) was probably the biggest tip/clue when it came to an arrest. Maybe he was identified by a career Hot Topic employee?