News Releases - February 2010
2/26/2010 4:50:20 PMNEWS RELEASE
February 26, 2010
On February 26, 2010, Christopher Bauer of Centralia was convicted of Telephone Harassment by Judge Michael P. Roewe in Lewis County District Court. Mr. Bauer was originally charged by citation on May 5, 2009. Mr. Bauer’s sentence is pending a pre-sentence investigation. Mr. Bauer faces a maximum of 365 days in jail, a $5,000.00 fine, plus other court costs and assessments. The Court further ordered Mr. Bauer to have an anger management evaluation conducted prior to sentencing.
-----
Ronald Eugene Hickey, 50, of Centralia, originally charged by Information on December 29, 2010 with Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Certificate of Ownership False Statement or Illegal Transfer and Forgery, was found not guilty of all charges by jury on February 26, 2010.
###
February 23, 2010
On February 23, 2010, Brena Nickels, age 20 of Battleground, WA moved the Lewis County District Court for a Continuance of her Jury Trial schedule for this morning. The Honorable Michael P. Roewe granted defendant’s motion for continuance to allow her the opportunity to procure witnesses from California to testify. Ms. Nickels was originally charged by citation on May 29, 2009 with Driving Under the Influence and Minor Exhibiting the Effects of alcohol in a Public Place. The case was reset for a pretrial hearing in early March. Disposition of this case is still pending.
###
February 22, 2010
Charles Lee Fisher, 16 years old, of Packwood, was found guilty of two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree and two counts of Malicious Mischief in the Second Degree at a fact-finding hearing held on February 19, 2010, before Judge James Lawler, Lewis County Superior Court, Juvenile Division. Fisher was sentenced to 40 days in the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Facility.
###
February 18, 2010
Miranda Thoman, age 28, of Oakville, Washington, was convicted by a jury on February 18, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court for Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) with Intent to Deliver. Miranda Thoman was charged by Information on December 8, 2009, with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) with Intent to Deliver. She was convicted as charged. The Jury also found the defendant guilty of possessing the controlled substance within 1000 feet of Washington Elementary School in Centralia.
Due to the Defendant’s lengthy criminal history, Ms. Thoman is facing 84-144 months in prison. A Sentencing has been set for April 14, 2010.
-----
Charles Bushnell, 45, was scheduled for trial before Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey on February 19, 2010. At the request of defendant’s attorney, Don Blair, and over prosecution objection, trial has been continued.
A new trial date will be set on February 25, 2010.
###
February 17, 2010
Michael Edward Caton, 26, of Thurston County, had two separate cases tried in front of Judge Brosey in Lewis County Superior Court on February 17, 2010. The charge in both cases was Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Michael Caton was acquitted in one matter and convicted by Judge Brosey in the second matter. The Defendant is facing standard range sentence of 43 to 57 months in prison. Sentencing is set for March 3, 2010.
-----
Torrie Renee Lyons, 52 of Chehalis, was sentenced on February 17, 2010, by Judge James Lawler in Lewis County Superior Court for two counts of felony Bail Jumping. Lyons originally was charged by Information on September 22, 2009. Judge Lawler found Lyons guilty after a bench trial on February 4, 2010. Ultimately, Judge Lawler imposed a sentence of 3 months in jail.
-----
Gerith Dixon Crow, 20 of Chehalis, was sentenced on February 17, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court by Judge James Lawler. Crow plead guilty to Assault in the Third Degree. Crow was charged by information on December 8, 2009. Judge Lawler imposed a prison sentence of 22 months.
-----
Felicia Fay Harris, 38, of Centralia was convicted by a jury on February 16, 2010 in Lewis County Superior Court for Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission in the Second Degree. Ms. Harris was charged by Information with that crime on December 24, 2009. The Defendant is facing 14-18 months in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
###
February 11, 2010
Jose Ivan Pagan, 31 of Centralia was convicted of Possession of Dihydrocodeinone by Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt on February 11, 2010. Dihydrocodeinone is commonly referred to as Vicodin. Mr. Pagan is set to be sentenced on March 10, 2010.
###
February 10, 2010
Kenneth Lane Slert, age 60, was sentenced for second degree murder by Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler today. Slert received 220 months in prison, the maximum sentence under the sentencing guidelines, plus an additional 60 months for committing the murder with a firearm. The total sentence was for 280 months.
###
February 9, 2010
On February 9, 2010, Timothy Duville, age 39 of Moses Lake, WA, pled Guilty to a charge of Driving Under the Influence. The Honorable Michael P. Roewe, Lewis County District Court, accepted Duville’s Guilty Plea and struck the Jury Trial. Mr. Duville was originally charged by citation on November 23, 2005. Duville failed to appear for his pretrial hearing in 2005 and the case remained in warrant status until June 2009. The Court ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation be conducted prior to sentencing. Mr. Duville faces a maximum of 365 days in jail, $5000 in fines and a three year revocation of this driver’s license.
###
February 8, 2010
On February 8, 2010, William Thomas, age 74 of Winlock, WA, pled Guilty to a charge of Driving Under the Influence. The Honorable Michael P. Roewe, Lewis County District Court, accepted Thomas’ Guilty Plea and struck the Jury Trial. Mr. Thomas was originally charged by citation on November 1, 2009. The Court ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation be conducted prior to sentencing. Mr. Thomas faces a maximum of 365 days in jail, $5000 in fines and a one year revocation of this driver’s license.
-----
Kenneth Lane Slert, of Tacoma, Washington, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree in Lewis County Superior Court on February 2, 2010, following a seven day jury trial. The jury also returned a special verdict finding that Slert was armed with a firearm during the commission of the murder.
The murder charge was filed on January 16, 2004, following an extensive homicide investigation conducted by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. According to Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports, on October 24, 2000, Slert flagged down a Ranger for the Mount Rainier National Park and reported that he had shot and killed a man the previous evening at his campsite in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Law enforcement authorities responded to the campsite and found the body of John Benson, age 53, near Slert’s tent.
Slert advised detectives that Benson, who was also camping in the area, stopped by his camp early in the evening of the 23rd , where the two men talked and ultimately shared some bourbon in Benson’s truck. Slert stated that at some point Benson began making anti-government statements so he struck Benson in the face and exited the truck. Slert reported that Benson followed him and mauled him like a bear and began choking him. Slert claimed that he broke free of Benson’s grasp, retrieved his .45 cal. Ruger and shot Benson twice in self defense.
Forensic experts called by the State testified that Benson sustained close range gunshot wounds to his neck and head. The forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy testified that the shot to the neck would have quickly paralyzed Benson from the armpits down and that the shot to the head would have been almost immediately fatal. The forensic pathologist also concluded that the fatal shot was fired from behind Benson’s head.
Slert is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2010. He faces a sentencing range of 183 to 280 months in prison.
-----
On February 5, 2010, after Bench Trial before a Pro-Tem Judge in Lewis County District Court, the Defendant Marcus S. Valderrama, age 47 of Chehalis, was found guilty of the crime of assault in the fourth degree domestic violence and not guilty of the crime of violating a no contact order. The charges were filed by citation on May 18, 2009 and November 6, 2009 respectively out of incidents occurring on those same days and both cases were tried together. The Court sentenced the Defendant to 365 days in jail with 365 days suspended, a $400 fine and court costs, a no contact order with the victim, and a domestic violence evaluation and alcohol evaluation along with probation.
-----
On Febuary 4, 2010, Judge Pro tem, Douglas H. Haake, Lewis County District Court, declared a mistrial in the case of State v. Brooks-Johnson. The defendant, Cheri Brooks-Johnson of Centralia, was charged by citation on November 26, 2009 with two counts of Assault in the Fourth Degree with a special allegation of Domestic Violence. The Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office plans to re-file charges as early as next week.
###
February 4, 2010
John Charles Baker, age 66, of Centralia, Washington, pled guilty in Lewis County Superior Court on February 4, 2010, to charges of Assault in the Second Degree - Domestic Violence, Possession of Methamphetamine and Felony Harassment.
The assault and possession of methamphetamine charges were filed on December 6, 2007, as a result of an incident that occurred on December 5, 2007, at approximately 3:50 a.m. at the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Centralia, where Baker served as cemetery sextant. The felony harassment charge was later filed as a separate case as a result of threats by Baker to kill a witness to the December 5, 2007, incident.
According to Centralia Police reports, on December 5, 2007, Baker armed himself with a propane torch and threatened to burn down a trailer belonging to Pamela Hollinger, who resided on cemetery property. Baker armed himself with a shotgun and retrieved a sweatshirt belonging to Deana Morris, who also resided on the property. Baker then threw the sweatshirt on the ground and fired the shotgun at the sweatshirt and threatened Morris by stating that she was next. Baker then pointed the shotgun at Morris and Hollinger. Morris fled the scene and contacted a passing motorist who alerted authorities. Centralia Police units responded and arrested Baker. Baker later advised the lead detective in the case that he was merely shooting moles when the incident occurred.
A Lewis County Superior Court Judge sentenced Baker to 12 months and a day in prison and ordered that Baker not have contact with Morris or Hollinger for 10 years. Baker was also ordered to serve 18 months of community custody following his release from prison.
###
February 4, 2010
Torrie Renee Lyons, 52 of Chehalis, was convicted by Judge James Lawler on February 4, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court of two counts of felony Bail Jumping. Lyons originally was charged by Information on September 22, 2009. Lyons faces a standard sentence range of 3-8 months in jail. A sentencing date will be set on February 11, 2010, at 11:30 a.m.
-----
On February 4, 2010, prior to commencement of jury trial in Lewis County District Court, the Defendant John C. Baker, age 66 of Centralia, pled guilty to the crime of criminal trespass in the second degree. The Defendant was originally charged by prosecutor complaint on January 22, 2009 out of an incident that occurred on January 14, 2009. Judge R.W. Buzzard sentenced the Defendant to 90 days in jail with 90 days suspended, a $500 fine, and court costs.
-----
Dustin Allen Simpson, 28 of Centralia, originally charged by Information on September 17, 2009 with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender had his charges dismissed at the close of the State’s case during a jury trial. Judge Brosey dismissed the case because the information filed by the State was missing the word “knowingly”, an essential element of the crime charged.
###
February 1, 2010
On February 1, 2010, prior to commencement of jury trial in Lewis County District Court, the trial of John C. Baker, age 66 of Centralia, for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree was continued until February 4, 2010 due to judge unavailability.
###