On April 28, 2014 Pinal County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Tyler Kost, of San Tan Valley, for two counts of Sexual Assault and two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor.
By May 1, 2014 Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announced in his usual histrionic fashion that Kost was a serial rapist. Kost was re-arrested and booked into the Pinal County Jail for the following offenses:
• 7 counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor (Dangerous Crime Against Children)
• 3 counts of Sexual Abuse (Dangerous Crime Against Children)
• 7 counts of Sexual Assault
• 7 counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor
• 1 count of Sexual Abuse
At the time, Kost was 18-years-old.
Detectives requested that he be held on a “NO BOND” status.
The Kost case, it seems, became just one more of the many cases through which Babeu could grab the media’s attention.
Babeu complained bitterly when Judge Larry Wharton initially set Kost’s bond at $10,000. Babeu expressed outrage that Kost was bonded out and released from custody.
Babeu complained that “Judge Wharton was informed in the probable cause paperwork there were 13 alleged victims and Kost had threatened to kill both victims and witnesses.”
Babeu stated in a press release after he re-arrested Kost:
“Serial rapist Tyler Kost was a predator who threatened, harassed, stalked and then either forcibly sexually abused or sexually assaulted his victims. After he was initially booked into custody, his victims felt a sense of relief but that was soon diminished after Judge Wharton set a low bond and he was ordered released from custody. Our office, the victims and the community knew Tyler Kost was a danger to society and he needed to be taken back into custody.”
Detectives worked around the clock on the cases of not only the first 13 victims but an additional 5 who were later discovered. Over 80% of female victims who are sexually assaulted or raped never report the crime to law enforcement. Once this case was initially reported, many victims have come forward. These young women have said, enough is enough and thanks to their courage, Tyler Kost is now behind bars where he can no longer continue to inflict pain on his victims.”
According to an AP report, attorneys for Kost “say there is a “treasure trove” of evidence proving the girls lied about the abuse.” Kost’s attorneys said new evidence taken from Facebook and Instagram proves the women lied about sexual abuse.
“The court documents reveal a group Facebook chat where three of the accusers and three witnesses made plans to “teach a lesson” to Kost and referred to the movie “John Tucker Must Die,” where ex-girlfriends take revenge on a former boyfriend. The exchange happened weeks before the women accused Kost of sexual assault,” AP reported.
There appears to be multiple victims in this case, but Kost appears to be one of them as well, say some community members.
Community members have rightly held Babeu and Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles responsible for what they say is a miscarriage of justice that caused Kost to spend over 700 days in jail without bond. Given the fact that the investigation was botched from the start by a lead investigator that violated policy and was later terminated, the blame appears to be deserved.
As a result, Voyles, who has earned a reputation for making politically uncomfortable cases go away while vigorously prosecuting the disenfranchised, lost his re-election bid.
It is hoped that Kent Volkmer, who defeated Voyles and will take office this week, will rededicate the County Attorney’s office to one that serves justice rather than the red meat craving media.