Serial rapist sentenced to life in prison

PULLMAN – A serial rapist convicted in a number of 19-year-old Pullman rape cases has been sentenced to life in prison.

Kenneth Downing was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole for at least 214 months, during a Friday, Aug. 19, hearing before Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey.

Downing was convicted of four counts of first-degree rape and second-degree assault with sexual motivation, records show.

If released from prison, Downing will have to register as a sex offender, records show. He will be on life-time supervision with the department of corrections. S...