Rantz Exclusive: King County Superior Court accidentally released convicted rapist from custody

The King County Superior Court accidentally released a convicted rapist from custody, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) confirmed to “The Jason Rantz Show.”

A jury found Noel D. Stepney guilty of Rape in the Second Degree on June 11. According to the KCPAO, he has a combined 33 convictions and charges stemming from cases involving domestic violence, theft, narcotics sale and possession, and attempted escape.

Despite the conviction, Stepney posted bond on his $75,000 bail on July 26. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“He should have been remanded on a no-bail hold being convicted of a serious violent offender and facing a minimum 159 months indeterminate sentence,” Casey McNerthney explained to “The Jason Rantz Show.”

Rapist wasn’t eligible for bail

According to statute, Courts are prohibited from releasing anyone convicted of Second Degree Rape between their conviction and sentencing. The responsibility is on the Court, which usually makes the order. The prosecutor on the case, however, did not present an order to King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee.

“It’s the responsibility of all parties to make sure that the law is followed in the courtroom. In this case, after King County prosecutors secured a conviction, he was not remanded into custody. Defense Counsel didn’t raise the requirement, nor did the case prosecutor present an order to the court. As such, the defendant’s pretrial bail, previously set by the court, remained in place,” McNerthney explained.

In a statement to “The Jason Rantz Show,” a spokesperson for the King County Superior Court mirrored the details from KCPAO.

“Apparently, the Defendant was in custody during the trial and at the conclusion of the trial. No order was presented by State to the Court remanding the Defendant and thus the original conditions of release were in place on $75,000 bond. The Defendant did not post the bond for over 1 year and remained in custody, until he posted. Subsequently, the Court was presented an order for a bench warrant with no bail permitted and was signed by the Court,” the spokesperson explained.

Bench warrant has been signed

After the KCPAO was alerted that Stepney posted bail, they made a motion for a bench warrant on July 28, which was signed by a judge.

“Police are tracking him down now,” McNerthney said.

Police said Stepney followed his victim into her apartment, put his hand over her mouth, pressed her head and body into a wall, pulled down her pants, and raped her. They said he told the victim if she reported the rape, he’d harm her further and kill her dog. Detectives were able to connect DNA left at the scene of the rape to reference samples taken from Stepney at the King County Jail. At the time the samples were taken, in 2023, police say he was being investigated for two other alleged sexual assaults.

Once caught, Stepney is facing a minimum of 159 month sentence.

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