Tri-Cities tattoo artist accused of rape back in jail after disappearing for 2 months
A Kennewick rape suspect who disappeared for two months after being released from jail because of a defense attorney shortage is now back in custody.
A $200,000 nationwide warrant was issued for Jose Isreal Chamorro Castillo, 43, after he failed to show up for a hearing June 13, a week after his bail was eliminated.
The tattoo artist was one of six people accused of felonies to be released from the Benton County jail in early June because they didn’t have an attorney. Most of them were ordered to show up for court hearings the next week until an attorney could be assigned to their cases.
Chamorro Castillo is accused of raping a woman after he offered to give her a free tattoo at her home. He’s charged in Benton County Superior Court with two counts of second-degree rape.
He was first arrested in April, arraigned in May and held in jail in lieu of posting $200,000. By June 6, he still didn’t have a lawyer when he appeared in front of Judge Diana Ruff.
At the time, Benton County public defense Manager Charlie Dow said he didn’t have any attorneys to assign to his case.
Federal and Washington state constitutions guarantee everyone the right to an attorney if they can’t afford one.
Suspects also are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial within 60 days if they’re in jail or within 90 days if they’re out of custody unless they waive that right.
In addition to the suspects who were released from jail this spring, several criminal charges were dropped.
Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger told the Tri-City Herald that his office is in the process of refiling those cases that were dismissed.
In Chamorro Castillo’s case, attorney Scott Johnson, who is in private practice, has agreed to represent him.
Rape accusations
Chamorro Castillo was listed as the owner of The Badder Ink, a tattoo and piercing shop with locations in Kennewick, Oregon and New York.
A woman contacted Chamorro Castillo’s shop in September 2022 because she wanted to get a tattoo for her birthday.
When she told him about her birthday, he insisted they celebrate at his shop with some champagne, said court documents.
He asked if he could tattoo her for free in exchange for taking some photos for his portfolio. She agreed, and he suggested they talk about it more. When she suggested they go to an area bar, he said that wasn’t safe and invited her to his home in Richland, according to court documents.
Along the way, he stopped at a gas station to buy a bottle of wine and a rose for her.
“She advised that she started to feel uncomfortable but he had given her the tattoo for free, so she felt obligated,” court documents said.
At the home, he gave her a glass of wine and insisted she drink a shot of tequila, said the documents. She told police she tried to leave, but he allegedly steered her into the bedroom and raped her.
After leaving, she went to a hospital and the DNA collected was considered a near match to Chamorro Castillo, show court documents.
A Richland detective discovered Kennewick police investigated three other reports that Chamorro Castillo offered free tattoos before making alleged unwanted sexual advances. No charges were filed in those cases, according to court documents.
“Also, in 2019, a Facebook post warned women about a tattoo artist who was being sexually aggressive with girls,” according to court documents. Several women posted warnings about Chamorro Castillo, who goes by “Israel,” said the documents.
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 3:20 PM.