News Releases - July 2010

July 23, 2010

Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden announced today that his office has been awarded $100,000 in federal grant monies for the prosecution and prevention of gangs and gang related crimes.

Part of the Gang Enforcement and Intervention Program grant will be used to offset current and future salary expenses related to gang prosecution, while the remainder will be used to enhance coordination with law enforcement and provide outreach activities for the recognition and prevention of gang related crime.

Today’s notice from the Washington State Department of Commerce that his recent application for the grant had been successful was good news. According to Golden, “This money allows me to further reduce the budget for the Prosecutor’s Office while intensifying our focus and impact on gang related crime in Lewis County.”

Citing the good work already done by his office and Centralia Police in fighting gang activity and the crimes that accompany it, Prosecutor Golden went on to say that this new resource for gathering and sharing information on gangs can be put into action quickly and effectively because of the good working relationship his office has with Chief Berg’s department. “When it comes to gangs, continued vigilance and decisive action are the keys to keeping their numbers down.”

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July 22, 2010

Brian David Pruett, 36 of Olympia, originally charged by Information on January 28, 2010, with Rape in the Second Degree, was found not guilty by a jury in Lewis County Superior Court on July 22, 2010.

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July 21, 2010

Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden is waiting until investigation results are received from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office concerning possible animal cruelty charges stemming from injuries to a horse in Onalaska. Initial reports indicate Donna Shelton put a nylon harness on the foal and left it on without adjustment until growth of the animal’s head forced the strap to wear through the flesh of its face all the way to the bone.

According to Prosecutor Golden, “the grotesque nature of the animal’s injuries and subsequent suffering is appalling. Charging decisions will be made as soon as we determine who all is responsible for injuries sustained by the foal and if other animals are in danger.”

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July 16, 2010

Steven Richard Hooper, 24 of Centralia, already a Registered Sex Offender, was convicted by a jury in Lewis County Superior Court of two counts of Child Molestation in the Second Degree. Hooper was charged by Information on February 26, 2010. The Defendant is facing a standard range sentence of 87-116 months in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled on July 22, 2010, at 1:50 p.m.

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July 15, 2010

On July 15, 2010, District Court Commissioner Wendy Tripp, granted the State’s Motion for Reconsideration of her June 22, 2010 ruling dismissing the case against Benjamin Lamotte, age 18 of Silver Creek, WA. Mr. Lamotte was cited with Negligent Driving in the Second Degree following a collision between the pick-up truck he was driving and a logging truck on U.S. Highway 12 near Mossyrock on December 8, 2009. Ryan Rashoff, age 17, a passenger in the pick-up, was killed in the accident.

A contested hearing was originally set for March 15, 2010, but at the request of defense counsel was re-set to the last day of speedy trial. On June 15, 2010, the State moved the Court for a good cause continuance outside of speedy trial due to the unavailability of the citing officer, who was attending mandatory training out of the area. The Court granted the State’s continuance and a new hearing date was set for June 22, 2010. However, on June 22, 2010, the defense moved for a dismissal arguing the Court had no authority under the rules to grant a continuance. The Court agreed and dismissed the case. On July 2, 2010 the State moved the Court to reconsider the dismissal arguing the Court had authority to grant a good cause continuance under the Civil Rules, which supplement the Infraction Rules. The Court granted the State’s Motion and ordered the case re-set for a contested hearing. Notice of the new hearing date is pending.

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On July 14, 2010, after a Jury Trial in Lewis County District Court, a Jury found Sarah Delp, 28, of Tumwater, WA guilty of the crime of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The Defendant was originally charged by citation with the crime of DUI on November 11, 2007. The trial in this matter was originally set for February 5, 2008, but the Court granted defense’s request for a Continuance to allow defense to Motion the Court for suppression of the defendant’s breath test. On September 3, 2009, District Court Judge RW Buzzard denied the defense’s motion to suppress the breath results and the matter was again set for trial.

The Defendant faces up to 365 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, court costs and assessments, and probation. A sentencing date will be set once a presentence investigation has been performed by the Lewis County District Court Probation Department.

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July 9, 2010

Fred Harley Isaacson, 45, of Centralia, originally charged by Information on March 24, 2010 with Assault in the Third Degree, was found not guilty by jury on July 8, 2010.

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July 2, 2010

Fred Harley Isaacson, age 46, of Centralia, Washington, was acquitted by a Lewis County Jury on July 1, 2010, in Lewis County Superior Court for Unlawful Possession of a firearm, Second Degree. Isaacson was charged by Information on September 17, 2010, with Unlawful Possession of a firearm, Second Degree, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (heroin). The Delivery charge was dismissed pre-trial because the Centralia Police Department was unable to locate their confidential informant.

After trial confirmation last week, the criminal defense lawyer produced a new witness who claimed to have testimony relevant to the delivery charge. Because a delay in the trial date would make many of the prosecution witnesses unavailable, the State faced a Hobson’s choice – either go forward without an opportunity to explore the new witness’ story before trial, or delay the trial and potentially be unable to proceed at all. The State chose to go forward.

At trial, the new witness testified not about the delivery charge, but about the weapons charge instead. Her story could not be explored in the time available.

Prosecuting Attorney Michael Golden stated: “Cases like this illustrate how the court system coddles criminals. In an earlier case (State v. Fairchild), the State indicated after trial confirmation that a fact witness may also offer opinion testimony. The Court dismissed the case, asserting that the late designation of a witness was governmental misconduct prejudicial to the rights of the defendant. In the State v. Fred Isaacson case yesterday, the defense revealed a new witness for the first time after trial confirmation, the State never was able to reach that witness before trial, and at trial the witness testified on a completely different issue.”

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