Teh One Who Knocks
11-27-2012, 12:43 PM
By LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
A Shoreline man accused of forcing unwanted oral sex on another man in a gym shower has been charged with rape.
King County prosecutors contend David A. Lehtinen accosted another man in the shower room of a 24 Hour Fitness center in Shoreline. The alleged victim told police he was washing his face in the communal shower when Lehtinen, 46, tried to perform oral sex on him.
Contacted by police following the Aug. 23 incident, Lehtinen is alleged to have claimed the other man "signaled" that he wanted "more than just a shower" before Lehtinen approached him.
"The defendant said he believed all the signs and signals were there," King County Sheriff's Office Det. Casey Johnson told the court.
Lehtinen has been charged with third-degree rape in the incident. His alleged victim is in his 30s.
Describing the alleged attack to police, the man said he was showering next to a stranger, later identified as Lehtinen, following a workout.
According to charging documents, the man felt someone touch his genitals when he leaned backward to wash his face. He looked down to see Lehtinen kneeling in front of him.
"What the (expletive) are you doing?" the man asked before rushing from the locker room, according to charging documents.
Lehtinen then quickly walked out of the gym, apologizing while covering his face, Johnson told the court, noting that several 24 Hour Fitness employees watched him leave.
Police subsequently identified Lehtinen as the suspect and contacted him several weeks after the alleged attack.
Speaking with police, Lehtinen claimed the encounter was consensual and that the other man was aroused during the incident, Johnson told the court. He allegedly claimed the other man thrust his groin at him prior to the alleged sexual assault.
The detective noted Lehtinen admitted the other man "freaked out," but suggested he did so because he was a "closeted straight man."
Lehtinen has not been jailed in the case and has yet to enter a plea. He has no serious criminal history.
A Shoreline man accused of forcing unwanted oral sex on another man in a gym shower has been charged with rape.
King County prosecutors contend David A. Lehtinen accosted another man in the shower room of a 24 Hour Fitness center in Shoreline. The alleged victim told police he was washing his face in the communal shower when Lehtinen, 46, tried to perform oral sex on him.
Contacted by police following the Aug. 23 incident, Lehtinen is alleged to have claimed the other man "signaled" that he wanted "more than just a shower" before Lehtinen approached him.
"The defendant said he believed all the signs and signals were there," King County Sheriff's Office Det. Casey Johnson told the court.
Lehtinen has been charged with third-degree rape in the incident. His alleged victim is in his 30s.
Describing the alleged attack to police, the man said he was showering next to a stranger, later identified as Lehtinen, following a workout.
According to charging documents, the man felt someone touch his genitals when he leaned backward to wash his face. He looked down to see Lehtinen kneeling in front of him.
"What the (expletive) are you doing?" the man asked before rushing from the locker room, according to charging documents.
Lehtinen then quickly walked out of the gym, apologizing while covering his face, Johnson told the court, noting that several 24 Hour Fitness employees watched him leave.
Police subsequently identified Lehtinen as the suspect and contacted him several weeks after the alleged attack.
Speaking with police, Lehtinen claimed the encounter was consensual and that the other man was aroused during the incident, Johnson told the court. He allegedly claimed the other man thrust his groin at him prior to the alleged sexual assault.
The detective noted Lehtinen admitted the other man "freaked out," but suggested he did so because he was a "closeted straight man."
Lehtinen has not been jailed in the case and has yet to enter a plea. He has no serious criminal history.