'He messed with the wrong girl' says dad of teen attacked

5-9-2011 Washington:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Olympia teen who police said fought off a sex offender Thursday night credits a karate class for helping her break free from the attack.

“It was scary. Very, very scary,” Leslie Givens, 16, told KING 5 News.

Givens, who was not seriously injured, was walking on a trail off Atchison Drive when police she was hit from behind by suspect Kevin James Stark, 40, a registered Level 2 sex offender.

Givens began taking karate last month, and said she repeatedly punched, kicked and bit his fingers because she was afraid he was going to do “inappropriate” things to her.

"I feel like a superhero," she said, when asked about being able to fight off a grown man.

"He messed with the wrong girl," her father, Brian Givens, said, who started sending her to karate class to help her learn to defend herself.

Shortly after the alleged attack, Thurston County Sheriff's deputies stopped Stark in the area and questioned him. After releasing him, deputies said they discovered his wallet near where Givens was attacked.

Givens has scratches on her hands and legs, and bumps and bruises on her head. She stayed home from Timberline High School Friday, where she is a freshman.

“I’m glad she’s okay,” said Brian Givens. “I’m really proud of her.”

According to court records, Stark has been convicted of 7 counts of failing to register as a sex offender since a 1997 conviction of indecent liberties. In addition, Stark has another conviction for a controlled substance.

Stark was booked into the Thurston County Jail. ..Source.. by KING 5 News