05:58 PM PDT on Saturday, May 27, 2006

By LINDA BRILL / KING 5 News

BREMERTON, Wash. - A violent sex offender who brutally beat and raped a Mason County woman 20 years ago will be moving to Bremerton after he was released from prison Saturday.

Authorities would like to keep Bruce Allen Lee, a level 3 sex offender, in prison longer by having him civilly committed, but state law won’t allow it since Lee’s victim was not a stranger to him.

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna would like to keep Lee under lock and key.

KING

Bruce A. Lee

“I’m very frustrated with the state law that narrowly defines sexually violent predators in a way that does not allow us to seek civil commitment of this person,” he said.

The woman who was hogtied, beaten and raped by Lee 20 years ago is now worried for her own safety.

“I’m going to have to take drastic measures to see to it that I am safe. He is capable of horrendous torture,” the she said.

Lee’s plans to live in a Bremerton apartment are also causing concern among his new neighbors.

 “I just don’t have any faith in any kind of rehabilitation for a person like this,” said resident Genny Haggerty

Lee is required to register as sex offender with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department.

Several police agencies have put out notifications of his release.