Lewis County Sirens.com

Andrew C. Skyberg looks toward his mother who was sitting in the benches in Lewis County Superior Court today.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Andrew C. Skyberg was brought before a judge this afternoon, charged with first-degree assault for allegedly firing twice towards a woman standing on a Chehalis porch following an early morning argument.

Skyberg, 36, was arrested on Friday, a day after the criminal charges were filed in Lewis County Superior Court and a judge issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for him.

Prosecutors allege back on Oct. 7, there was arguing heard outside a house on the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue and Skyberg pointed his handgun in the air and fired off two to three rounds then shot twice toward Jerry Lynn Peterson. Nobody was injured.

Authorities have not offered a motive, but stated in charging documents the Chehalis man had been to the home in previous days and there was an ongoing dispute between he and residents there.

A stolen Ruger .380 pistol believed to be the weapon he used was recovered at a nearby home, and a resident there arrested for rendering criminal assistance.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Joel DeFazio this afternoon asked that bail remain at a half million dollars. Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke asked that argument on the amount be reserved for a future date.

Judge James Lawler agreed.

First-degree assault has a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Centralia attorney David Arcuri was appointed to represent Skyberg.

His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday morning in Lewis County Superior Court.
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For background, read “Southwest William Avenue shooting incident suspect apprehended” from Friday October 14, 2016, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The strongest winds today in the southwest interior are expected late this afternoon and early this evening, according to the National Weather Service.

A high wind warning will be in effect until 11 p.m. for most of Western Washington.

In the western half of Lewis County, we could see winds coming from the south at 20 to 35 mph with gusts near 60 mph, according to the NWS.

Weather watchers advise people to secure outdoor objects such as lightweight furniture before the storm.

High winds can topple trees onto roads, vehicles and even roof tops. The NWS reminds the public that falling trees or large branches have been known to cause fatalities. Widespread power outages are possible.

The most severe part of the storm is expected to occur here between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

No wind warning is in place for the eastern portion of Lewis County.

The only flood warning continues on the Skokomish River in Mason County, with minor flooding.

The very strong Pacific storm system with the potential also for heavy rainfall is the remnants of Pacific Typhoon Songda.

A coastal flood watch is in place for the central coast of Washington, with seas expected greater than 20 feet.

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office has recommended citizens stay off the beaches and out of the woods because weather conditions could be treacherous.

They suggested others avoid traveling to the county for clam digging or deer hunting this weekend altogether.

• Report power outages to Lewis County PUD at 360-748-9261 or 360-496-6100

• Report power outages to Centralia City Light at 360-736-7040
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To get the latest weather information straight from the primary source, go to the  National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle page, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Shelton woman and a Packwood woman were arrested outside a pizza restaurant in Packwood yesterday as one was allegedly about to exchange cash for two half-pound packages of methamphetamine from the other.

Torina M. Lorenzano, 46, from Yakima, and Dawn M. Cooper, 43, from Shelton, were arrested by members of the local drug detective team and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

They were booked into the Lewis County Jail and brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told the judge Lorenzano admitted to supplying three to four pounds of meth and more than a half pound of heroin each week to people in Lewis and Thurston counties.

Cooper acknowledged buying two of those pounds of meth each week from Lorenzano, Meyer said.

Both were charged today with numerous felonies. Judge James Lawler set bail at $100,000 for Lorenzano, and $150,000 for Cooper.

Law enforcement found more than $4,800 cash in Cooper’s truck, most of which she said was to purchase the meth, and the rest for a past debt, according to charging documents.

According to charging documents, detectives with the local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team began to follow Cooper as she drove throughout county yesterday, based in part on monitored phone calls from the Lewis County Jail in which she and an inmate discussed drugs and money in veiled language.

JNET announced this afternoon their three-county investigation began in July, in coordination with the DEA, U.S. Marshals and the fugitive apprehension team with the state Department of Corrections.

The trafficking organization they began looking into deals in both heroin and meth, according to JNET.

According to JNET, they identified Cooper as the person they believed was continuing business for her significant other, a 41-year-old Centralia man who was arrested Sept. 29 for allegedly possessing and delivering meth.

Five ounces of meth were seized in connection with the arrest of William “Aaron” Barge, according to authorities. Charging documents state over $12,000 cash was confiscated as well.

“While investigating Cooper, numerous ‘workers’ and customers were identified as well as her main supplier,” JNET wrote in its news release. “This investigation is ongoing and several more suspects are being sought by JNET.”

On Monday, JNET learned Cooper was staying in a motel in Tumwater, and although she fled, law enforcement subsequently allegedly found under the mattress in her room approximately 68 grams of meth and 28 grams of heroin, according to court papers.

Yesterday in Packwood, law enforcement watched as Lorenzano carried a bag from her truck and got into Cooper’s vehicle, which contained the pound of meth in two burrito-sized packages as well as a white smaller package that contained five ounces of heroin, according to court papers.

When  Lorenzano’s truck was searched, another half pound of meth plus three gram of cocaine were found, the documents state.

Inside Cooper’s vehicle, officers located six to 10 grams of meth, a digital scale and numerous “clean” baggies, the documents relate.

The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $150,000.

Their arraignments are set for Oct. 20.

The overall investigation is being reviewed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Assistant United States Attorney’s Office for charging considerations, according to JNET.

Felicia D. Lane, left, and Bryan K. Butts, right, appear in Lewis County Superior Court on charges of rendering criminal assistance.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A days-long dispute between residents at a south Chehalis home and 36-year-old Andrew C. Skyberg preceded the early morning incident in which he allegedly fired two shots towards one of them while she was standing on the front porch, according to court papers.

The events just before 3 o’clock in the morning on Friday led to the arrests of two people who reportedly assisted Skyberg afterward and a manhunt that was still ongoing as of this afternoon.

Documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court state that police were told by witnesses Skyberg was on the sidewalk outside the house on the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue when he pointed his handgun in the air and fired off two to three shots then shot twice toward the female victim.

Andrew C. Skyberg, wanted

Callers to 911 reported hearing arguing outside and the sound of gun fire.

The woman was not hurt, but officers recovered one bullet lodged in the wooden front railing and two .380 caliber shell casings on the sidewalk, according to authorities.

Skyberg had reportedly been to the house over the previous few days.

Chehalis police have not disclosed any details related to motive.

Arrested on Friday and charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree rendering criminal assistance were Bryan K. Butts, 32, and Felicia D. Lane, 28.

Charging documents in their cases suggest that police came to learn Skyberg had been at Lane’s nearby home, became upset, left and then a short time later she heard gun shots.

Lane resides on the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street. Court documents give the same address for her boyfriend, Butts, although Chehalis police initially described him as  Cinebar resident.

Police were told Skyberg then came running back into her home, said he needed a ride out of there and handed Lane a cloth-wrapped object containing a firearm that she hid in her room, according to court documents. Officers recovered a Ruger .380 pistol.

The gun had recently been stolen in a vehicle prowl, according to police.

A detective was told Butts gave Skyberg a ride to McFadden Park.

Yesterday morning, police were told Skyberg was seen around 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street and three schools in the area were locked down while officers from multiple agencies scoured the area.

When Butts and Lane were brought before a judge yesterday afternoon, he set bail for each of them at $100,000. Their arraignments are scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Manhunt underway near Chehalis schools” from Monday October 10, 2016, here

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Chehalis police use a saw to collect evidence from in front of the targeted house on Southwest William Avenue on Friday morning.

Hennessy R. Turner-White faces a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One of three suspects in a Centralia home invasion in which a pet dog was shot and killed early last year apologized to one of the victims today, just before he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Hennessy R. Turner-White of Portland was 22 when he was arrested last summer as police began to piece together what led to incident at the 1200 block of Marion Street, at the north end of town.

Officers had arrested a 17-year-old Centralia boy, Brian A. Carreon, and subsequently arrested another Portland man, 26-year-old Deandre J. Perry.

Marion Street, Feb. 19, 2015

Carreon’s sister from Portland, Taina Duncan, was arrested and charged with rendering criminal assistance for allegedly driving the others to the house.

On the night of Feb. 19, 2015, Dustin Palermo and his girlfriend had just settled into bed to watch a movie, when about three males barged through the door demanding money and weed, and fired numerous shots killing their pit bull Misty.

The former Navy corpsman had a small, and legal, amount of medical marijuana plants growing inside, for himself and another patient. It turned out, prosecutors alleged in court papers, the teenager had been there before and took a video of himself trimming the plants.

Turner-White in a plea deal pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree animal cruelty.

His lawyer asked the judge to go along with the agreed recommendation of 144 months in prison.

“He made a horrible decision, that will affect his life forever,” Robert Quillian said. “Fortunately, he will be a relatively young man when he is released.”

Turner-White’s mother was the only person present in the courtroom to support him.

Palermo addressed the judge, saying the hardest part has been that his children’s friends can’t come around, because he was labeled a drug user.

Before he was sentenced, Turner-White turned to face Palermo and said he was sorry. He told him he didn’t shoot his dog to be mean, but only out of fear.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler agreed to the deal the lawyers had worked out.

The defendant had no criminal history.

Lawler told him his incredibly stupid and bad decision is why he was getting so much time.

“You’re a young man, if you want to have a life, you’ll have to do things differently,” Lawler said. “But first you’ll have to pay the penalty.”

Perry has already pleaded guilty and is going to be sentenced on Wednesday.

Carreon is scheduled to be in court on Oct. 19, expected to plead guilty and be sentenced.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said he’s still trying to get Duncan back up here from Portland. Her trial is still on the court’s calendar for the week of Nov. 14.
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For background, read “Law enforcement finds Centralia robbery suspect in Vancouver jail” from Thursday October 1, 2015, here

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Correction: This had been updated to reflect the correct date of Brian A. Carreon’s upcoming court hearing.

Wanted: Andrew C. Skyberg

Updated at 2:24 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Three Chehalis schools are in lockdown this morning while police search for a suspect from an incident last week.

Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said that around 8:36 a.m. today, officers got a report that 36-year-old Andrew C. Skyberg was seen in the area of the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street.

They, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies are in the area trying to locate him, Bailey said.

St. Joseph School, R.E. Bennett Elementary School and Cascade Elementary School went into lockdown as a precaution, she said.

Skyberg is wanted as the primary suspect in an early morning incident on Friday in which multiple gunshots were fired outside a home following an argument at the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue.

Nobody was injured and police said on Friday afternoon they recovered what they believed to be the handgun used.

Chehalis police at about 12:40 p.m. today said officers were unable to locate Skyberg this morning, but asked for help from the public.

Officers were told this morning he was wearing a brown hoody and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about Skyberg’s location or information about Friday’s incident is asked to call 911 or, to remain anonymous, call the Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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For background, read “Chehalis: Two arrested, primary suspect outstanding from early morning shooting” from Friday October 7, 2016 at 5:04 p.m., here