News Releases - December 2009

NEWS RELEASE

December 30, 2009

George William Ray Duncan, Jr., 33, of Morton, was charged by Information on August 25, 2009 with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. A jury trial was held on December 28, 2009. The jury was deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. Judge Richard Brosey declared a mistrial and discharged the jury.

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December 16, 2009

Ely Curtis Krouse, 30 of Centralia, pled guilty to one count of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Assault in the Second Degree and was sentenced on December 16, 2009, by Superior Court Judge James Lawler. Krouse was charged by Information on June 17, 2009, following the robbery of the Centralia branch of the Bank of America in 2008. At the time of sentencing, Krouse was serving 525 months total in prison for bank robberies in Cowlitz and Pacific Counties. Judge Lawler sentenced Krouse to 129 months to be served consecutive to the previous 525-month sentence.

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December 10, 2009

The Superior Court jury trial of Shawney Lee Bertrand was continued from Decembe 10, 2009 to the week of January 11, 2010, due to the non-appearance of one of the State’s witnesses. Shawney Lee Bertrand has been charged by information with one count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone).

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December 9, 2009

Ammahad Anthony Bradley, 18, of Centralia was sentenced on December 9, 2009 by Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt. Ammahad Bradley plead guilty to VUCSA – Possession of Oxycodone and Possession of Marijuana Under 40 Grams and was sentenced to 15 days in jail.

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Dylan Harris Palmer, 23, of Rochester, Washington, was previously convicted by Judge Nelson Hunt after a stipulated facts bench trial on November 13, 2009 in Lewis County Superior Court for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin and Driving While License Suspended in the Third Degree. Dylan Palmer was sentenced to a Residential Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative on December 9, 2009 by Judge Nelson Hunt.

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James Tennant, 22, of Pierce County was sentenced on December 8, 2009 by Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt. James Tennant plead guilty to VUCSA – Possession of Heroin and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

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December 4, 2009

Kimmie Mulligan, 45, Chehalis, was sentenced on December 4, 2009 by Superior Court Judge James Lawler to 365 days in jail with all jail time suspended for twenty-four months. Ms. Mulligan was charged by Information on August 28, 2009 with Forgery, pled guilty to the amended charges of Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer and Making a False and/or Misleading Statement to a Public Servant. Judge Lawler deferred the sentence for two years with the requirement that Ms. Mulligan pay her fines as ordered and not have any further criminal law violations.

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December 3, 2009

Derek Yost, 26 of Centralia, was found not guilty by a jury in Lewis County Superior Court of Indecent Liberties with Forcible Compulsion. Mr. Yost did plead guilty to Violation of a Protection Order. Prior to trial, the Court denied the State’s request to introduce Mr. Yost’s prior criminal history and the events of the evening for which Mr. Yost pleaded guilty. Mr. Yost faces up to one year in jail for violation of the protection order. Sentencing on that charge will be set on December 10, 2009.

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Richard Darin Turner, 44 of Centralia, was sentenced on December 1, 2009 by Superior Court Judge James Lawler. Turner was charged by Information with Assault in the Second Degree - Domestic Violence on July 8, 2009. The Defendant faced a standard range sentence of 3-9 months in jail. Judge Lawler imposed a 6-month jail sentence.

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December 2, 2009

Steven Allen Maggard, 38, of Centralia, was sentenced on December 2, 2009 by Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt. Steven Maggard pled guilty to Count I, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Count II, Negligent Driving in the First Degree and Count III, Driving While License Suspended in the First Degree. Steven Maggard was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Counts I and III and 90 days in jail for Count II.

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Matthew Duane Ripp, 35, of Winlock, was sentenced on December 2, 2009 by Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt. Matthew Ripp pled guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

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Ronald Eugene Hickey, 49 of Centralia, originally charged by Information on August 7, 2009 with three counts of Assault in Violation of a No Contact Order and one count of Intimidating a Witness. The No Contact Order was issued on January 20, 2009 and Mr. Hickey was arrested on August 6, 2009. The case was dismissed with prejudice by Judge James Lawler on December 1, 2009 for

failure to provide defense with subsequent recordings of phone calls made by the defendant while in jail. The prosecution had considered the recordings as potential evidence of a subsequent crime, to be charged later. Judge Lawler found that the recordings could contain exculpatory evidence and should have been turned over as evidence in this case. Prosecuting Attorney Michael Golden stated that although he disagrees with the Judge’s ruling, it does not appear that the Judge abused his discretion under existing law. Mr. Golden stated, there are no current plans to appeal the decision, but the recordings will be reviewed to determine whether additional charges will be filed.

Prosecuting Attorney Michael Golden further stated that the decision in this case does not affect Mr. Hickey’s convictions for Unlawful Imprisonment and Assault in the Fourth Degree resulting from his trial that concluded on November 6, 2009. Sentencing on that case will take place on December 9, 2009.

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Jose Ivan Pagan, 31 of Centralia was scheduled for a bench trial before Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey on December 1, 2009. The prosecution had all of its witnesses present and the Deputy Prosecutor informed the court she was ready to proceed to trial. Judge Brosey granted the defendant’s request for a continuance. The trial has been continued to February 8, 2010.

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George Patrick Woodard, 44 of Centralia was convicted by a jury on December 1, 2009 in Lewis County Superior Court for Kidnapping in t he First Degree with Sexual Motivation, Rape of a Child in the Second Degree, and Child Molestation in the Second Degree. Mr. Woodard was originally charged on December 26, 2008. The Defendant is facing a mandatory life sentence as a persistent offender. A sentencing date will be set on December 10, 2009.

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The Superior Court trial of Ginger Marie Docksteader has been continued at the defendant’s request to the week of January 11, 2009. The basis for the defendant’s motion to continue was the unavailability of a defense witness for the presently scheduled trial date of December 1, 2009.

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On December 1, 2009, after a stipulated facts bench trial before Judge Michael P. Roewe, Jared A. Swetz, age 18 of Silver Creek, was found guilty of possession of marijuana less than forty grams. The Defendant was originally charged by citation with that offense on August 8, 2009. Judge Michael P. Roewe sentenced the Defendant to 90 days with 88 days suspended, credit for time served, fines and costs.

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On December 1, 2009, after fact finding before Judge Nelson Hunt, Tayone D. Akers, age 17 of Spokane, was found guilty of Custodial Assault. The Respondent was originally charged by prosecutor complaint with that offense on December 1, 2009. Judge Nelson Hunt sentenced the Respondent to 30 days, with credit for 30 days served, fines and costs.

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Anthony A. Moretti, 26, of Oakville, was sentenced in Lewis County Superior Court by Judge Richard Brosey following a guilty plea on November 24, 2009. Mr. Moretti was charged by Information on October 28, 2009 with Vehicular Assault and Driving While License Suspended in the Second Degree. Mr. Moretti pled guilty to both of those charges. Mr. Moretti was sentenced to 13 months in the Department of Corrections (DOC) on his Vehicular Assault conviction and to 365 days, to be served concurrently, for the Driving While License Suspended conviction. Following release from prison, Mr. Moretti will be subject to community custody for the period of 18-36 months. Mr. Moretti was also ordered to pay $1,300.00 in fines, fees and assessments as well as restitution to his victim.

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