SEATTLE — A man accused of attacking three women joggers in West Seattle -- grabbing each and planting his face into the victims' buttocks -- has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree assault with sexual motivation.
Duane E. Starkenburg, 47, will be sentenced to up to 10 years, eight months in prison when he's sentenced on April 13, the Prosecutor's Office said. The Prosecutor's Office will recommend nine years, nine months in prison.
Starkenburg, speaking with reporters after he was arrested in January, 2011, said he just liked to watch women run and that the incidents were all misunderstandings.
"I go to the park to exercise and yes, I do watch women run! They’re running around half-naked, and any healthy man – what about you? (asks bystander). Would you watch women run? If she’s wearing spandex? Yeah, you would. OK,” said Starkenburg. “I go down to the park to exercise. I ran into a few people."
Starkenburg also pleaded guilty on Monday to a separate charge of second-degree child molestation in connection with a sexual assault about 10 years ago of a girl who was 9 or 10 years old at the time, the Prosecutor's Office said.
KIRO
