Rape suspect hit with consecutive DUI charges

BONNERS FERRY — A novel coronavirus-positive Spokane man awaiting a retrial on rape charges in Boundary County has been arrested on back-to-back drunken driving charges.

Spokane television station KXLY reports that Mordecai Lester Cochrane was first arrested for driving under the influence in Spokane on May 20 after police found him passed out behind the wheel. Cochrane tested positive for the virus, which causes COVID-19, after he was booked into the Spokane County Jail. He was released within 12 hours, according to KXLY. He was arrested on a second DUI charge on May 25 and advised officers he was supposed to be in quarantine.

All six officers who had contact with Cochrane are in self-quarantine, KXLY reports.

Cochrane, 21, was tried on forcible rape charges in February, but the proceeding ended in a mistrial, according to court documents. He was scheduled to be retried in June, but the trial was rescheduled for October due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A criminal complaint alleges Cochrane raped two 19-year-olds in Bonners Ferry on Aug. 30, 2019.

He’s further accused of unlawfully providing alcohol and drunken driving.

The criminal complaint said the young women attempted to resist Cochrane’s alleged attacks but their resistance was overcome by force.

He allegedly pushed one of the woman to the floor, grabbing her hair and hitting her head on a concrete floor several times. He did the same thing to the other woman, the complaint said.

Cochrane was later stopped for speeding in Bonners Ferry and his breath-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.16, which is twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Cochrane pleaded guilty to the dispensing to minors and DUI charges, records show.

The defense in Cochrane’s case contends that Cochrane was trading drugs for sex with the women and they falsely claimed being raped after he refused to hold up his end of the transaction, according to court documents.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.