News Releases - January 2010

NEWS RELEASE 

January 29, 2010

Michael Todd Hinkkanen, 43, of Winlock was convicted by a jury on January 29, 2010 in Lewis County Superior Court for two counts of Harassment – Threats to Kill, a Class C felony, and one count of Driving Under the Influence. Hinkkanen was arrested the afternoon of June 6, 2009 for Driving Under the Influence of an intoxicant following his involvement in a two vehicle collision. While in custody, Hinkkanen made threats against the arresting officer, as well as repeated threats against an assisting officer’s children.

Sentencing will be set on February 4, 2010.

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January 27, 2010

On January 27, 2010, after a jury trial that commenced on January 25, 2010, the jury returned a verdict of hung jury for the charge of Assault in the Fourth Degree against the Defendant Hal J. Durrett. The Defendant Hal J. Durrett, age 26 of Toledo, was charged with the crime of Assault in the Fourth Degree by prosecutor complaint on October 2, 2009 out of an incident occurring on or about July 11, 2009. The matter has been reset for a pretrial conference for early February for resetting of trial.

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On January 25, 2010, prior to the commencement of jury trial in Lewis County District Court, the Defendant Tyler K. Roberts, age 37 of Chehalis, pled guilty to the charge of Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence. The Defendant was charged with Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence by citation on October 16, 2008. The Defendant will be sentenced in Lewis County District Court after a presentence investigation is administered by the Lewis County District Court Probation Department.

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January 25, 2010

George Patrick Woodard, 44 of Centralia, was sentenced on January 25, 2010, by Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey. Woodard was charged by information on December 26, 2008. On December 1, 2009, a jury found Woodard guilty of Kidnapping in the First Degree with Sexual Motivation, Rape of a Child in the Second Degree, and Child Molestation in the Second Degree. Judge Brosey imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of early release because Woodard is a Persistent Offender under the law. This classification arises due to Woodard's criminal history, which consists of a conviction for Child Molestation in the First Degree from 1989 in Thurston County.

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Benjamin Ernest Jones, 42, of Centralia pled guilty on January 22, 2010, in Lewis County SuperiorCourt to the charges of Vehicular Homicide, three counts of Reckless Endangerment and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Jones was originally charged by Information on January 26, 2009. The charges stemmed from a January 24, 2009, incident in which Jones was the driver in an off-road accident in Centralia that left a 2-year-old boy dead and two other children with minor injuries.

Jones is facing between 21 and 27 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2010, at 2:30 pm in Lewis County Superior Court.

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January 22, 2010

Timothy Michael Ahern, 37 years old of Salkum, and Floyd Thomas Pruitt, 45 years old of Centralia, both originally charged by Information on April 27, 2009 with Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle, were found not guilty on January 21, 2010 at a bench trial in front of Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey.

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Jennifer Ann Haggard, 42 years old of Onalaska originally charged by Information on October 27, 2009 with the crime of Bail Jumping, was found not guilty by Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey at a bench trial on January 21, 2010.

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January 20, 2010

Walter Lee Webb, 74, of Chehalis, originally scheduled for trial this week, pled guilty to two counts of Rape of a Child in the Second degree in Lewis County Superior Court on January 20, 2010. Webb was charged by Information on June 8, 2009. The Defendant is facing a minimum sentence range of 102-136 months in prison and a maximum sentence of life. A sentencing date will be set on January 28, 2010.

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January 19, 2010

Brandon Alden Clayton, 28, of Woodinville was convicted by a jury for two counts of Malicious Mischief in the First Degree on January 19, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court. Mr. Clayton was charged by Information on July 29, 2009. The Defendant is facing two to six months in the Lewis County Jail. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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Joshua Phillips, 25, of Centralia was scheduled for a Jury Trial on January 19, 2010 in Lewis County District Court for Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drugs. Phillips was charged by Citation on May 24, 2008 with Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drugs. The case was dismissed by the court at the conclusion of the State’s case.

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Dawn Pace, 51, of Mossyrock was scheduled for a Jury Trial on January 19, 2010 in Lewis County District Court for Assault in the Fourth Degree- Domestic Violence. Pace was charged by Citation on July 26, 2009 with Assault in the Fourth Degree- Domestic Violence. The trial was rescheduled for March 9, 2010.

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January 15, 2010

Shawny Lee Bertrand, age 41, of Centralia, Washington, was convicted by a jury on January 15, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court, after a two day jury trial, for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone). The jury also found Bertrand had delivered the Oxycodone within 1000 feet of a school bus stop designated by the School District.

Bertrand was charged by Information on May 29, 2009, with Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone). The State added the school bus stop enhancement after Ms. Bertrand rejected the State’s plea offer. She was convicted as charged.

The Defendant is facing 12+ to 20 months in the Department of Corrections, plus 24 months for the school bus stop enhancement. A Sentencing date has not yet been set.

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January 14, 2010

Martin Estrada Contreras, 22 of Centralia, was sentenced on January 13, 2010, by Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey for one count of Rape of a Child in the First Degree, two counts of Rape of a Child in the Second Degree, and one count of Communicating with a Minor for Immoral Purposes. Estrada Contreras was charged by Information on July 31, 2009. Judge Brosey imposed an overall sentence of a minimum of 240 months and a maximum of life in prison to be determined by the Department of Corrections

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Edward Starnes Dougherty, 19 of Centralia, was sentenced on January 13, 2009, by Superior Court Judge James Lawler for one count of Attempted Indecent Liberties with Forcible Compulsion. Dougherty was charged by Information on July 7, 2009. Judge Lawler imposed a sentence of a minimum of 38.25 months and a maximum of life in prison to be determined by the Department of Corrections.

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January 13, 2010

Esther Guerra, 18, of Lacey, Originally charged by Information on August 24, 2009, was found not guilty of Possession of Cocaine by jury in Lewis County Superior Court on January 13, 2010.

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John J. Keating, 34 of Seattle, was found not guilty by a jury on January 12, 2010 in Lewis County District Court for Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drugs . Keating was charged by Complaint on July 23, 2008 with Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drugs.

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Ryan Wilson, 31, of Centralia, originally charged by Information on August 19, 2009 with Theft of Rental Property, was found not guilty by jury in Lewis County Superior Court on January 12, 2010.

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January 11, 2010

Ginger Marie Docksteader, age 44, of Chehalis, Washington, was convicted by bench trial (judge without a jury) on January 11, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court for Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine). Ginger Marie Docksteader was charged by Information on August 18, 2009, with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine). She was convicted as charged. The Defendant is facing 0-90 days as a first time offender.

A Sentencing date has been set for January 14, 2010 at 1 p.m.

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Jerry Armstrong, age 39, of Chehalis was convicted by a jury on January 11, 2009 in Lewis County District Court for Assault in the Fourth Degree - Domestic Violence. Armstrong was charged by Citation on October 23, 2009 and was convicted as charged. The Defendant is facing up to one year in jail and fines.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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January 8, 2010

Victor Albert Lyle Whalen, 43, of Centralia was found guilty as charged today by a jury in Lewis County Superior Court for Possession of Heroin. Mr. Whalen was charged by Information last August with the Class C felony. A sentencing date will be set on January 14, 2010.

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January 7, 2010

Ginger Michelle McInnis, age 38, of Tenino, Washington, pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) on January 7, 2010. McInnis pled guilty as charged in lieu of going to trial, which was scheduled for the same day. The Defendant was ordered to pay the jury costs. Ginger Michelle McInnis was charged by Information on October 8, 2009, with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine). The Defendant is facing 0-90 days in the Lewis County Jail. A Sentencing date has not yet been set.

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January 5, 2010

Nico Louis Hall, 17 years old, of Okanogan, was found guilty of Custodial Assault at a fact-finding hearing held on January 5, 2010, before Judge James Lawler, Lewis County Superior Court, Juvenile Division. Hall was sentenced to 15 to 36 weeks in Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

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Jeffery Todd Larson, 39, of Chehalis pled guilty to Possession of Heroin in Lewis County Superior Court on January 5, 2010. Larson was charged by Information on November 12, 2009. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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Daniel Lee Lister, 39, of Chehalis was convicted of Possession of Stolen Property Third Degree by Judge Richard Brosey on January 5, 2010 in Lewis County Superior Court. Lister was charged by Information on November 24, 2009. The Defendant was sentenced to 90 days in the Lewis County Jail along with standard costs and assessments.

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James P. Chapman, 35, of Mineral, WA was scheduled for Jury trial before District Court Judge R.W. Buzzard on January 5, 2010. Chapman is charged with Assault in the Fourth Degree Domestic Violence. On order of the Court, the trial has been continued to February 16, 2010.

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