Idaho fugitive squattedin home, police say

A fake contractor hired to remodel a Kent, Wash., home was arrested after squatting there with his girlfriend while on the run from Idaho for child sex crimes, according to police.

The homeowners had hired the man, whom they believed to be a contractor, for an extensive long-term remodeling project, the Kent Police Department said in an online post.

In early December, the homeowners found the man had changed the door locks and was repeatedly refusing to let them enter the home, police said.

On Dec. 8, several officers were called to the home in the 26700 block of 138th Place Southeast. Officers tried to contact the man and his girlfriend, who was also inside the home.

The couple refused multiple commands to come to the door, police said, so with the homeowners’ permission, officers entered the home and arrested them. The couple had moved their belongings inside and was squatting in the home, police said.

The man initially lied about his name. Police identified him with a fingerprint scanner as a 45-year-old man from Idaho with a $500,000 warrant for rape of a minor.

Officers arrested the man and charged him as a fugitive from justice, as well as with first-degree criminal trespassing. The man is in King County Jail awaiting extradition to Idaho.

Police also arrested the woman, 35, from Yelm, Wash., for trespassing and booked her into the city of Kent jail.

Officers found a shotgun with no serial number inside the home and a work trailer with a stolen license plate in the driveway. Police removed both from the property.

Police urge homeowners and business owners to take extra time to vet contractors.

“If they seem fishy, they likely are,” police said.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has an online tool at st.news/contractor to verify if a business you want to work with has an active contractor registration. You can also check for safety violations, other information, lawsuits against their surety bond and more.

Vonnai Phair: 206-464-2757 or vphair@seattletimes.com; on Twitter: @vonnaiphair. Vonnai Phair covers morning breaking news and enterprise for The Seattle Times. a 45-year-old man from Idaho with a $500,000 warrant for rape of a minor.