Last week, reports surfaced that Decapitated guitarist Waclaw Kieltykaf was formally charged with first-degree kidnapping and second-degree rape, while drummer Michal Lysejko was charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree rape. According to The Spokesman-Review, vocalist Rafal Piotrowski and bassist Hubert Wiecek appeared in court on October 20 and received their formal charges as well.
The newspaper reports Piotrowski is charged with first-degree kidnapping and second-degree rape, and Wiecek is charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree rape. Like their bandmates, both Piotrowski and Wiecek have their bail set at $100,000 each. Attorney Jeffry Finer, who represents Piotrowski, says Decapitated will pursue the bail option and are currently waiting on documents from Poland to "impress the court."
"Among this group, there are a number of advanced degrees and zero criminal history," Finer said.
Decapitated has since maintained its innocence throughout the legal proceedings. Last Friday, the band's lawyer released a statement explaining the formal charges:
An update – following extradition from California to Washington, the band has now been charged. We’d like to emphasise; the Spokane Police Department has pressed charges as procedural formality, without doing so, they would be forced to release band – this is not a conviction or any indication of guilt or innocence.
Once again, we ask that everyone wait for each party’s case to be presented and await the court’s decision. With that said, whilst cases are being prepared on both sides, some facts are indisputable at this point – that the original officer who took the complaint from the accuser stated, "I do not have probable cause that a rape occurred”, and it’s taken a full 30 days to file charges, which is right up against the point at which the defendants would legally have had to be released.
The band firmly refutes the allegations and are confident that once the facts and evidence have been seen and heard, they will be released and able to return home.
Individuals who were present on the night in question with information about the case are asked to reach out to the defense lawyer, Steve Graham of Spokane, Washington.
Decapitated was arrested on September 8 in Santa Ana, California, and was held in Los Angeles County Jail until their extradition to Spokane, Washington. The arrest stems from allegations of kidnap and rape after a show in Spokane on August 31.
