Man charged with rape has struck before
Charged in the incident was Edward Kappe, 46, of Maris Street near Jannette in Roxborough. A quick search of Kappe's records in Philadelphia showed a long criminal history full of theft charges but no prior arrests for sexual assault.
Yesterday, I reported on the horrific rape of a woman this weekend in a house that is for sale in the Wissahickon section of Philadelphia.
Charged with rape and related offenses in the incident was Edward Kappe, 46, of Maris Street near Jannette in Roxborough. A quick search of Kappe's records in Philadelphia showed a long criminal history full of theft charges but no prior arrests for sexual assault.
However, an astute reader sent this 2003 article from the Allentown Morning Call over to me today. The story is about a woman who phoned police while she was being sexually assaulted by Kappe in February 2003 in Bethlehem.
According to Northampton County court records, Kappe pleaded guilty to indecent assault with forcible compulsion in that case and was sentenced to serve just one to 24 months in county prison.
I'll say it again and again until someone listens - in my opinion, the guidelines for sexual assault and rape in this country are a disgrace. How does a man forever scar a woman and only serve a month in prison?
If the latest charges against Kappe prove true, that month he spent behind bars on the sexual assault charge did absolutely nothing to stop him from doing it again. If found guilty in the latest case, hopefully, Kappe receives tougher punishment this time around.