In Kent, Washington, a man has been charged after a days-long crime spree in which he targeted men he met off gay dating apps, GROWLr and SCRUFF.
Leverne Lee Maxwell, 32, is accused of seven felony charges, including raping one of his victims at gunpoint. That particular incident took place April 7 after Maxwell met his victim through the GROWLr website and mobile phone app.
Seattle PI reports:
Having met through the site, Maxwell posed as a buyer for a Kindle eBook the man was trying to sell, the detective told the court. Once inside the man’s home, he asked for a glass of water and again became very aggressive.
“You’re a little (anti-gay slur) aren’t you,” Maxwell told the man, according to charging papers.
“You’re gonna suck my (expletive),” he continued.
Maxwell then pulled a pistol and threatened to kill the man before sexually assaulting him.
Four days later, Maxwell robbed a second man that he met off GROWLr at gunpoint in South Seattle, taking his laptop and iPhone. Then on April 13, Maxwell stole another man’s iPhone after meeting him through SCRUFF.
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According to charging papers, Maxwell used a phone belonging to the mother of his two-year-old child to contact his victims. Investigators were able to link Maxwell to the rape through a used condom and fingerprints, as well as a handgun recovered from his apartment. They also claim to have video of him selling a stolen phone in Kent and several men have identified him as their attacker.
Maxwell, an 11-time felon, was arrested April 19 and charged with first degree rape, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of unlawful gun possession and one count of first-degree burglary. He denied the rape, claiming they had consensual sex, and also denied robbing anyone or using a gun to do so.
Maxwell remains jailed on a $750,000 bail and is expected to appear in court May 6.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
DOFEK
Where is the HOMOS, mafia? get gun guys!. AdamHomo
Scribe38
NO judgement on internet hook-ups or selling items at all but you have to be careful. You have to meet people in public first and get a read on people before moving forward. I hope the rapist who needed a gun, gets his ass ripped up in jail.
BJ McFrisky
See what happens when people slap a name like Leverne on their son?
BritAus
A rapist that uses a condom ………?
devinjgray
The gay mafia is on it, DOFEK. This guy will wish someone had been merciful enough to use use a gun on him…
Bob LaBlah
I really do envy those who have the nerve to let total strangers into their homes and have hot sex. I feel pity for those who are so lonely they resort to hooking up with online strangers with the belief their chances are less getting HIV than going to a bathhouse, where in my opinion you are more physically safer and run no more higher risk of getting HIV than letting a total stranger into your HOME.
*
Imagine how many unreported incidents that HAVE happened. Every time I read or hear on the news about a single man being found murdered in his apartment online hookup is the first thing that goes thru my mind.
oilburner
@Bob LaBlah: upon reading this story the reporter stated the guy who was raped was selling a tablet not cruising for sex
oilburner
In my experience with online hookups its usually attractive guys beings sneaky and cheating and that works just fine for me
tardis
With the lack of laws protecting homosexuals, he’s probably going to get 1 week in prison.
Caliban
11-time felon? Uh, why does he keep getting out? Don’t most places have a 3-strikes law to enhance sentences?
Bob LaBlah
@oilburner: Good for you. I hope your luck (so far) stays with you.
MuscleModelBlog.com
@Caliban: My thoughts exactly. Why didn’t anyone notice a pattern?!
Starry Eyed
@Caliban: For what it’s worth, Caliban, Wikipedia claims that three-strikes laws come into play when someone commits three or more “serious” crimes. Maxwell is an 11-time felon, but were the crimes he committed considered serious by the court? Also, he may be serving his time out on parole, probably under the belief that he isn’t a danger to society- which is usually why three-strikes laws are used. If he’s found guilty, he may finally have maxed out on the court’s good will.
This is a terrible crime spree and one can only hope justice will be served appropriately in this matter.
Victor_in_PA
First of all, 11 FELONIES??!!! WTF? Why is this guy out on the streets? Come on Washington! Really?! What does one have to do to get put away for good there?
Second, I used to live in NYC where there were quite a few online hook-ups that ended in someone being killed, usually horribly, and in a couple of cases, the whole apartment set on fire afterward. No thank you! I’m way over those hookup apps too. I always do MUCH better face to face than online. Though face to face doesn’t protect you if the person you’re with is going to kill you anyway. But, I’ve been attacked going home with someone (not in NYC) so you never REALLY know the person. It’s just a better way to talk to someone and get a vibe. In any case, NEVER hook up with someone without anyone knowing and invite them to your house. That’s just asking for it.
Polaro
11-time felon? Felonies, by definition, are serious. Why was this guy walking the street when 3-time marijuana convicts are in jail for life?
viveutvivas
@Polaro, because he is probably white and they aren’t.
LadyL
Let’s go ahead and take bets on how quickly his lawyer works in the “homosexual panic” defense.
Kevin
THAT IS SO SCARY!!! He’s messaged me on Growlr before. I live 20 miles from Kent!!! OMG!!! OMFG!!!
Kevin
@Caliban: 3-strikes only applies to Class-A violent felonies. You can commit as many other felonies as you want and continue to get out…
frshmn
With online hookups, definitely feel someone out, whether they’ve been using drugs/drinking, willing to play safe only, and offer up their number and mulitple clear face picture. Anything can happen, but common sense can help you protect yourself. Far cuter guys on grindr than any bathhouse Ive been (very different demographic, though that says nothing about HIV/STD status)
katya
@BritAus:
Most rapists wear condoms nowadays.
They are fully aware
that the best way to catch a rapist is through DNA.
So yes, most rapists are
using a condom these days.
(just watch LAW & ORDER and they talk about it all of the time)
EvonCook
@Bob LaBlah: I certainly agree completely. Baths are far safer and healthier!!!
DarkZephyr
@tardis: Thankfully here in Washington, we have protections for LGBTs in place. In my opinion, WA is one of the best states for LGBT individuals.
Kevin
@DarkZephyr: We are really lucky here in Washington thank god. I’m just about to start a new job and it will be the first job that I will be out of the closet at, and I am so excited. The Advocate just posted an article with the “gayest cities in america” and I’m not sure how… but this was the top five…
1. Tacoma, Wash.
2. Springfield, Mass.
3. Spokane, Wash.
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Seattle
redcarpet
LGBT Law-wise Washington has really excelled in the last few years. 10 years ago we used to be behind CA in non-discrimination protections, and now we match that and surpass CA in marriage laws.
This is why I don’t do quick hookups. Anyone who wants me on Growlr is going to have to talk to me for a long time before they can meet me. Most psycho’s don’t want to take that time.
WayDifferent
@oilburner: I’m with you. This supposed world renowned bath house not far from me smells like poop, poppers and bleach. Furthermore, just like you have to be careful with online hook-ups, you have to find some ray of light in that bath house to pull those people to first because a) it’s so dark and b) they’re usually butt ugly. Scary ugly. Furthermore the supposed “transgendered” they’re letting in those places now are doing their dirty deeds of stealing and stabbing while dressed in drag just like they do outside of the bath house. Have it!
Daggerman
….this whole business make me wonder how do you actually rape someone with one hand? If a gun is in the other?….what do you do? Just say you’re going to shoot them if they don’t do as they’re told?
I feel that this is a little bit of B.S. story because the victim/victims (so-called) must have got turned on by the idea of a person brandishing a gun and then saying–“Drop ’em and spread ’em and put some lube up there!!! I’m sure you know what I mean?
QueerLib
Daggerman, you’re one stupid piece of turd. If you can just use a little imagination, gun in one hand (pointed at head), other hand either pushing/pressing the person down, and hard penis (with condom already on or not) probing and piercing the orifice(s). Why is this so difficult to picture? We do know what you mean; you mean to stay in your pretty little bubble of denial, cuz continuing to get your regular dose of dick in whatever ways you’re
used to is apparently more important to you than safety. Wake the f#%k up!