Lewis County Sirens.com

Robert Hicks, represented by Centralia lawyer David Arcuri, is sentenced to 17 months in prison.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Two weeks after his arrest for walking away from the scene of an early morning wreck he caused which left a Winlock woman with serious injuries, 28-year-old Robert A. Hicks pleaded guilty and apologized.

“I’m truly sorry,” Hicks said. “If I could trade places, I would.”

Hicks was sentenced yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court for vehicular assault, hit and run and tampering with a witness.

He admitted to the judge when asked, he was texting and driving as his car crossed over the center line.

Given he had no prior felony criminal history, the top of the standard sentencing range was 17 months in prison. And that’s what he got.

“I have to tell you, if it were legally possible for me to impose a greater sentence, I would definitely do it,” Judge Nelson Hunt said.

The head-on collision occurred on the 200 block of North Military Road in Winlock on July 24. A passing citizen found the two wrecked vehicles and called 911 at about 5:26 a.m.

Mechelle Crosse, 50, had multiple broken bones including in her face and back.

“She’s laying in bed crying because she’s helpless,” her daughter Nicole Ettner said as she asked the judge to hand down the maximum sentence. “My mom has never hurt a fly.”

The mother of 10 and grandmother of 12 needs 24-hour care because her mouth is wired shut, her sister-in-law Carla Ladino added.

“We’re not a rich family, and it’s hard on everybody,” Ladino said.

Hicks hung his head during most parts of the court hearing.

The electrician who had recently relocated to Winlock admitted to leaving the scene, and to calling his ex-girlfriend and telling her to report the car stolen.

Hicks wasn’t arrested until Aug. 10, in Olympia shortly after the case gained region wide attention, through the television show Washington’s Most Wanted.

His lawyer David Arcuri said his client earlier in the day was talking about writing a letter of apology.

Restitution, which will be substantial according to Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer, will be determined at a later date.
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For background, read “Using cell phone while driving suspected in Winlock wreck” from Thursday August 11, 2016, here

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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Rochester man who just recently has been able to return home after his motorcycle collided with a dump truck 16 months ago near a construction zone on a freeway onramp in Centralia is the beneficiary of an $18.5 million dollar settlement, approved by a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court.

Scott R. Bliss was 44 years old and a welder when the early morning wreck occurred on April 17, 2015 at the  northbound Harrison Avenue entrance to Interstate 5.

He spent about a month at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, time in other medical facilities and was just released in July from a rehabilitation center for serious brain injuries.

A lawsuit filed on his behalf named Washington state, the state Department of Transportation’s contractor Scarsella Brothers Inc. and the driver, Wesley G. Snelson, from Galvin.

Judge James Lawler this morning looked over the agreement between the parties, which sets up a trust fund to provide for his medical care for the rest of his life.

“It seems an extraordinary amount of money,” Lawler said. “Of course there were extraordinary injuries, and that makes sense.”

Bliss and his longtime partner Cheryl Aton were present for the hearing. He rolled into the courtroom in a motorized chair, but didn’t address the court.

His lawyers answered Lawler’s questions. Viivi M. Vanderslice said both defendants denied any responsibility.

Chehalis attorney Joe Mano, there to look out for Bliss’s interests, said he was in agreement, remarking on his belief a Lewis County jury would have found a significant portion of negligence.

The attorney representing the state said he had nothing to add. No lawyer from Scarsella was present.

Vanderslice said it appears from their research, it’s the largest outcome for a civil matter in Lewis County Superior Court paid out to a single person.

According to the Washington State Patrol, a dump truck was turning onto the ramp from a construction site when the motorcycle entering the freeway struck its trailer. Bliss was ejected from his Harley Davidson. It happened shortly before 5:30 a.m.

The Mac truck driver was cited by the state patrol for entering the roadway the way he did, the plaintiff’s other lawyer, Kirk Bernard, said.

“They were allowing big trucks to make a U-turn at the end of an open freeway onramp, without flaggers, with no warning signs,” Bernard said. “We learned they’d been doing this for months.”

Bernard and Vanderslice are with the Bernard Law Group in Seattle.

There was no evidence Bliss was speeding, his headlight was on and he was wearing a helmet, Bernard said.

The defendants took the position Bliss was a rogue motorcyclist and ought to have been watching out for the construction vehicles, he said.

“The issue is protection of the public, and adequate and clear warning,” Bernard said. “This was preventable.”

Today Bliss can take as many as 40 steps.

“He’s been tinkering in his garage, playing with his dogs,” Bernard said. “And he’s hopeful about the future.”
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For background, read “News brief: I-5 construction area crash sends one to Harborview” from Friday April 17, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One of four suspects pleaded guilty today to his part in an early morning Centralia incident which authorities alleged involved a ruse to obtain heroin that resulted in a struggle inside a car with bear spray and a box cutter.

Robert Plasencia, 29, of Napavine admitted he took keys and a cell phone during the events of July 30 at the 1600 block of North Scheuber Road.

Plasencia pleaded guilty as charged, to second-degree robbery, before Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler this morning.

Charging documents in the case say the two victims told police of a request to get heroin for one of the four suspects who claimed to be drug sick. One of the assailants allegedly used bear spray and one of the victim’s pulled out a box cutter.

The initial information was a purse and backpack were stolen from the pair.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told the judge Plasencia was quick in accepting responsibility. Defense attorney Michael Underwood said the plea agreement included both attorneys recommending his client spend 22 months in prison.

The standard sentencing range for the offense, given his criminal history, is 22 to 29 months.

Judge Lawler agreed with the deal.

Plasencia has been held in the Lewis County Jail since his arrest on July 31. He declined to make a statement on his own behalf.

Cases are still pending for the other three, charged similarly. They are Andrea Parker, 34, of Chehalis; Jon Parker, 32, transient; and Kiana J. DeLaRosa, 18, of Chehalis.
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For background, read “Bear spray, box cutter and heroin” from Friday August 12, 2016, here

Updated at 2:21 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An argument over leaving garbage at a Glenoma campsite is what reportedly sparked a stabbing that sent a 40-year-old man to Harborview Medical Center yesterday.

Deputies called just after 5 p.m. to the Dog Patch campground at the base of Dog Mountain found the victim with a stab wound to his abdomen, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said the weapon was a large Rambo-style knife.

The suspect and two companions fled in a white van and were ultimately located on a logging road across from Kosmos Road, Brown said.

Brown said the victim and witnesses said an argument broke out between the occupants of a Ohio license-plated car and the Florida-plated van about the subjects in the two cars leaving the trash behind.

The victim, a 40-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was immediately transported to Morton General Hospital and then airlifted to Seattle, according to Brown. His condition this morning is unknown, as the sheriff’s office last information is from 11 o’clock last night, when he was still in surgery.

The victim said the suspect came at him and stabbed him, Brown said. The suspect said it was self defense, she said.

Theodore D Pojman, 21, from Ocoee, Florida, was arrested for first-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail. Prosecutors are not filing criminal charges today, pending further investigation.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Officials are urging citizens to take care of themselves and their surroundings as temperatures today reach for 100 degrees.

Centralia City Hall will be open to the public from noon until 5 p.m., for any who need a place to stay cool. Water will be provided.

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Knowing folks will be drawn to the water for recreation, the Lewis County Drowning Prevention Coalition is reminding the public that most rivers and lakes can still be very cold below the surface. They urge people to wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets when in, on or around the water.

“Time is also critical so call 911 as soon as you see someone struggling in the water even if people are swimming out to them,” the group stated in a news release. “Victims submerged for more than 10 minutes have a very low rate of survival.”

The city of Chehalis has joined Centralia and Lewis County leaders in banning outdoor recreational fires, because of the fire danger.

Chehalis Fire Chief Ken Cardinale asks residents to please follow the restrictions and use good judgement based on the extreme risk.

In Chehalis as in other locales, outdoor cooking is allowed only using camp stoves with lids, on/off switches and which are fueled by  liquid gas or propane.

Chehalis also continues to allow the use of outdoor fireplaces, as long as they are equipped with an approved spark arrestor on the flue.

“As the Chehalis fire chief, I cannot stress enough the seriousness of the fire danger that presently exists,” Cardinal stated. “The continued dry conditions, very low fuel moistures and dry weather pattern we have been experiencing are contributing to the high fire danger.”

All of Western Washington except the immediate coast is under a red flag warning for fire danger.

The current forecast in Chehalis today is 102 degrees. Those in Toledo can expect 101 degrees; and in Centralia, 100 degrees. Communities in East Lewis County are projected to see temps in the mid-90s.

The National Weather Service expects temperatures to peak today and level off or drop slightly tomorrow, with significant cooling on Sunday.

Centralia Police Department detective Patty Finch and the Lewis County Public Health and Social Services Department suggest the following advice to prevent heat-related illness or injuries.

• Stay in an air-conditioned, indoor location as much as possible.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty; water is best.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully, and wear lightweight clothing and sunscreen.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Never leave children or pets in cars.
• Avoid dressing babies in heavy clothing or wrapping them in warm blankets.
• Check frequently on people who are elderly, ill or may need help. If you might need help, arrange to have family, friends or neighbors check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather period.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.

Other cooling stations open around the county include:

• Lewis County Fire District 6, at 2123 Jackson Highway, Chehalis
Open today from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Open Saturday, August 20 from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

• Twin Cities Senior Center, at 2545 N. National Ave., Chehalis
Open today until 7 p.m.
Open Saturday, August 20 from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

• Morton Senior Center, at 103 Westlake Ave., Morton
Open today until 6 pm

• Packwood Senior Center, at 12931 U.S. Highway 12, Packwood
Open today until 6 p.m.
Open Saturday, August 20 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis police arrested a 33-year-old man following an investigation that began when a special needs student told a school district employee that he grabbed her hand and put it in his crotch area during a program in which students go to local businesses to learn job skills.

The 20-year-old student allegedly said he’d done it several times before and she was afraid to tell him to stop, according to court documents.

Rodney R. Cook, the shipping manager at Sun Bird Shopping Center in Chehalis, was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of indecent liberties, according to temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Police were contacted on June 1 and spoke with a Chehalis School District employee who said the alleged victim told her what happened that day after she returned from Sunbirds, according to court documents.

Police Sgt. Rick McNamara was told the two were working on one side of a table pricing items while her job coach and other students were on the other side, court documents relate.

The documents don’t include any information indicating police interviewed the alleged victim or the suspect.

The school district’s program called Visions works with special needs children. The alleged victim has “a specific” learning disability” and an IQ of 71 or 72, according to court documents.

Cook, who lives in Olympia, was arrested yesterday and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

A judge this afternoon set his bail at $50,000.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said Cook has a March 2009 conviction in Wyoming for second-degree sexual assault, victim under 12.

His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 25.

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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Trial is set for September for four individuals charged with second-degree robbery for a Centralia incident authorities alleged involved a ruse to obtain heroin that resulted in a struggle inside a car with bear spray and a box cutter.

The suspects are: Andrea Parker, 34, of Chehalis; Jon Parker, 32, transient; Robert Plasencia, 29, Napavine; and Kiana J. DeLaRosa, 18, of Chehalis.

“The allegation is the set up of a drug deal,” Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher told the judge when their bail was addressed. “We’ve had people get really hurt in this county on drug deals.”

The bail hearing was held last week. Judge Richard Brosey set bail at $50,000 for three of the defendants. He made it $25,000 for DeLaRosa, who has no criminal history.

Police got involved when they were called to the 1600 block of North Scheuber Road in Centralia at about 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 30

Early information was a purse and backpack were stolen after a threat with a knife.

The two victims, a male and a female, told of a request to get some heroin for DeLaRosa who claimed to be “drug sick.”

Charging documents go on to describe when they arrived, DeLaRosa got into the backseat of the car, reached forward and took the keys from the ignition.

The three other suspects allegedly came out of the residence and DeLaRosa told them the victims had stolen $100 from her.

Another one got into the back seat and began fighting with the male victim who was sprayed, and the victim later admitted taking a box cutter to a suspect.

The two victims both called 911 and the Parkers allegedly admitted to finding a small amount of heroin in the bags and using it.

They all were given court appointed attorneys. Their arraignments were all scheduled for last week. The trial is set for the week of Sept. 19.
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For background, read “News brief: Centralia robbery suspects apprehended” from Monday August 1, 2016, here