Lewis County Sirens.com

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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Lewis County judge issued an arrest warrant yesterday for the former manger of a Chehalis furniture store, accused of pocketing money from cash sales and concocting phony invoices.

Misti M. Moore was expected to make her first appearance yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court, as a summons had been issued when a charge of first-degree theft was filed last month.

The summons was sent to her address on Littlerock Road in Olympia, but was returned to the prosecutor’s office, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meager said.

“We don’t know where she is,” Meager told the judge.

Moore, 45, had quit her job from Furniture World on North Market Boulevard with no explanation shortly before the business’s owner contacted Chehalis police in May of last year, according to court documents.

The owner Emina Jusupovic told an officer the issue came to her attention when a customer came in to ask about getting his furniture repaired and the items on his receipt did not match the entries in the company computer, Meagher wrote in charging documents.

A police detective was shown several instances suggesting similar cash transactions when he met with the new manager in July of last year.

One customer, for example, had a receipt showing he spent $2,000 on couches and love seats, but the store invoice showed a purchase of a table lamp for $43, according to Meagher.

That customer said he got a very good deal after he asked about a cash discount and a veteran’s discount and that one of the items he took home was advertised at $1,600 or $1,700, Meagher wrote.

Charging documents don’t indicate why it took more than a year to investigate and/or file criminal charges.

Meagher wrote in charging documents he currently has documentation of $5,880 missing, but the new manager found as much as $20,000 in discrepancies.

Moore has six prior felony convictions for embezzlement crimes committed in Virginia against another furniture store, according to Meagher.

Judge Nelson Hunt agreed to issue a $5,000 arrest warrant.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The owners of a Winlock warehouse that went up in flames last summer and their insurance company have already forked out more than $200,000 for the contractors who conducted cleanup and demolition, and now the state Department of Ecology has sent a bill for its response.

August 18, 2015

The 15,000 square-foot building held pallets of grocery products, including 1,130 gallons of vegetable oils. Runoff from the fire’s extinguishment spilled into the nearby Olequa Creek, killing as many as 100,000 fish over a stretch of three and a half miles.

Ecology and other agencies oversaw the response for more than two weeks after the August 18 fire. After any oil spill response, Ecology is required by state law to follow up with enforcement, including reimbursement for state expenses, the state agency said in a news release.

DOE has directed Olympic Trading Company to reimburse the state for its costs of $30,887.

The work at Northwest Kerron Street, just south of Laurel Street, included the collection and removal of  65,500 gallons of contaminated water and 25 cubic yards of oiled sorbents and contaminated soil, according to DOE.

The owners are Patricia and Michael Parish, who reside in the Winlock area, Fire Investigator Samuel Patrick said at the time.

Investigators have not found a cause for the fire.

Early on, officials reported finding all species and sizes of fish, insects and other living organisms were killed for five miles downstream, but revised the distance. DOE indicates some endangered species perished. Olequa Creek is a tributary to the Cowlitz River.

The state agency also issued Olympic Trading Company a $1,000 fine. The company has 30 days to appeal the penalty and cost reimbursement.

In its news release, DOE noted  the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a separate assessment for the value of damages to the environment.
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For background, read “Authorities: Stay out of Winlock creek, avoid contaminated runoff from warehouse fire” from Friday August 21, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Mossyrock city clerk now stands accused not only of stealing roughly $7,700 from the city, but of making large monthly withdrawals – from roughly $2,200 to as much as $4,833 – from the municipality’s accounts going back to October.

Doneia A. Santiago

Doneia A. Santiago, 53, pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft earlier this month, but already the mayor the police chief and prosecutors were digging up new information by looking into transactions at Key Bank, where the city did business until moving to Security State Bank.

Santiago was arrested on June 26 and was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

The alleged thefts came to light when Santiago approached the mayor to tell him her husband inadvertently used the city credit card to make an approximately $3,600 payment to Central Mortgage, according to court documents.

The initial charges also made mention of ATM withdrawals the mayor said were not authorized and use of Mossyrock’s bank card to purchase fuel.

In a supplemental affidavit filed in Lewis County Superior Court, prosecutors write that on the day Santiago was charged, Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar was notified Santiago had issued herself a payroll check on June 20, which was not a regular payroll date.

Morningstar advised the mayor to look over the Key Bank accounts, where they found a number of transactions made to Central Mortgage, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello wrote.

The total comes to more than $37,000.

Information from the Lewis County Assessors Office shows Santiago co-owns nearly 10 acres and a three-bedroom house outside of Mossyrock assessed at more than $258,000.

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office filed the supplemental affidavit and an amended information on July 8.

The charge of first-degree theft was left out, but in its place are nine charges of second-degree theft and nine charges of  first-degree identity theft.

Santiago has retained Centralia attorney Don Blair. Her next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.
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For background, read “Thousands of dollars in unauthorized transactions attributed to Mossy city clerk” from Monday June 27, 2016, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A $25,000 arrest warrant has been issued for a Pierce County man alleged to be behind an unlicensed marijuana growing operation in a rented building in Chehalis’s industrial district.

Steven D. Smith, 39, and two individuals who told police they worked for Smith tending the plants are charged each with one count of manufacture of marijuana.

Christopher M. Hannigan and Regina V.S. Champaco, both 41 years old and both residing at the same address in Tacoma, appeared before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday afternoon. They were allowed release on unsecured signature bonds.

Charging documents in the case identify the building only as on State Street in Chehalis, with no address, and note it shares a common wall with a neighboring business. Documents indicate a case number associated with the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.

A Chehalis detective was contacted in March about the possible marijuana growing there and the investigation led to a traffic stop for a broken windshield of a suspect vehicle as it left the building’s parking lot on Match 17, according to court documents.

The Tacoma couple said they were working for Smith, according to court documents. Hannigan said he’d built grow rooms and was paid $2,000 a month for the work, according to court documents.

When law enforcement searched the building, they found more than 400 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, charging documents allege.

Among the early clues, listed in court documents: the detective went to the manager of the neighboring business, which shared a wall, and learned there was mold growing in his building and who said when he spoke about it to Richard Na, the son of the building’s owner, Na just laughed it off.

When the Chehalis detective visited the exterior of the building, he could smell the odor of fresh marijuana outside and located items in the trash such as a broken fan, a broken thermostat, fertilizer and potting soil.

Detectives checked the power usage for the building and discovered a tremendous increase when January of this year was compared with September of 2014.

Police could not find either a Chehalis business license or any application to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board on file.

The building’s owner is not named in the court documents.

On March 23, the detective contacted Na directly, who said he rented to Smith for $5,000 per month and Smith pays the electric bill which runs about $1,300 each month, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello wrote in charging documents.

Na indicated Smith told him he had medical authorizations to grow for multiple people and would have no more marijuana than was allowed by law, according to Masiello.

When told there were over 400 plants and not the 75 Na had anticipated, Na appeared surprised, Masiello wrote.

Law enforcement tried to locate Smith at his home in Lakewood, but were unsuccessful.

On June 23, Lewis County prosecutors filed charges against all three, sought and secured the arrest warrant for Smith, and also requested court summons to be issued for Hannigan and Champaco.

They were late to their court hearing yesterday afternoon and the judge had already authorized warrants for their arrest, but essentially tore them up, defense attorney Joely O’Rourke said.

Manufacture of marijuana is a class C felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Hannigan and Champaco were ordered to return to court on July 21 for their arraignments.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – While police arrested a 19-year-old Rochester resident for second-degree assault after he reportedly struck a pedestrian early yesterday morning at Taco Bell in Centralia, prosecutors today filed a charge instead of hit and run.

Hit and run is a class C felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Chase A. Deguise

Officers were called just before 2 a.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Belmont Avenue and stated later in the morning their investigation showed Chase A. Deguise intentionally struck a male with his truck. The Centralia Police Department continued to investigate.

Deguise was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Lewis County prosecutors wrote in court documents today that numerous witnesses were questioned and it appeared there was a dispute between Deguise and Kyle R. E. Morrison.

“During the dispute, Deguise drove his truck through the parking lot and struck Mr. Morrison, launching him in the air,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote.

Morrison was found laying on the ground and was transported to the hospital with a laceration and bruising and may have a severe back injury, according to Halstead.

Deguise had driven home and didn’t contact law enforcement, charging documents state.

When he was contacted and questioned, he reportedly admitted knowing he’d hit the victim, according to Halstead.

Neither charging documents nor police gave any detail about the disagreement between the two.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sara Beigh told a judge this afternoon when bail was addressed the defendant has no criminal convictions in his past, but does have two cases currently in municipal court.

Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke indicated Deguise grew up in Chehalis, lives with his grandparents in Rochester, is going to school and in the process of getting a job.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt set his bail at $5,000. An arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.

Brandon M. Perrott faces a judge today charged with four counts of delivery of methamphetamine.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $25,000 for the suspect that drug detectives were looking for when they raided a south Centralia house yesterday.

Brandon M. Perrott, 33, however, had moved out the day before.

A search warrant was served at 7 a.m., at the 1000 block of South Tower Avenue by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team with the assistance of the Lewis County Regional SWAT Team, the Sheriff’s Enforcement Team and personnel with the state Department of Corrections.

Several people were detained, but only three were arrested. Law enforcement officers made their fourth arrest when shortly afterward they found Perrott at his new home on Reeder Road outside Tenino near Maytown in Thurston County.

Perrott was wanted for allegedly four times since early May selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant from the Tower Avenue residence while he was living there with his girlfriend and her family.

Her mother Penny Martin was among those in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon when the arrestees were brought before a judge.

Martin said they’d suspected what Perrott was up to and told him to leave. She was distraught over the condition of her home, after law enforcement officers conducted their search.

“Every room the officers went through, they broke things,” she said. “They opened every dresser drawer, and threw them down the hallway.”

She still can’t find her car keys, Martin said, noting one pile left of her belongings was taller than her bed.

Authorities posted the house uninhabitable, attributing the move to numerous code violations found inside and outside. Martin said they were in the process of remodeling the house they are purchasing.

Martin’s husband was arrested as when asked, he told police he had a methamphetamine pipe in his bedroom and gave them consent to search, according to court documents. Police found two meth pipes with residue and baggies with meth.

They also found two guns – a Winchester Model 70 and a Savage Arms Model 111 – which he is prohibited from having because of prior felony convictions.

Patrick N. Martin, 50, was charged today with possession of methamphetamine and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $10,000.

Thirty-one-year-old Jennifer N. Morillon, who rents a room at the home told police she had drugs in her pocket and in her bedroom they found a digital scale and numerous plastic bags with residue. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Her bail was set with a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Penny Martin’s son, 28-year-old Spencer R. Barney, was also arrested as police found in his bedroom an Windham AR-15 rifle and a Springfield 22 rifle, according to court documents. He too has prior felonies, and was charged with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $10,000.

Perrott was charged with four counts of delivery of methamphetamine.

All four of the defendants are unemployed and qualified for court appointed lawyers, according to temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey was initially visibly perturbed when told the confidential informant involved has in the past been represented by all but two of the county’s contract defense attorneys. It would mean finding outside lawyers for the defendants to avoid conflicts, he said, raising his voice.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello then said he’d charged Martin, Morillon and Barney as co-defendants with each other, but they were not involved in Perrott’s case.

Masiello acknowledged outside the courtroom the three arrests at the house were more or less byproducts of the investigation and search warrant meant for Perrott.

Penny Martin didn’t make excuses for her husband or her son, but couldn’t understand the necessity for police to break things.

“When they came, we didn’t fight,” she said. “If my family’s done something wrong, they’ll have their day in court.”

Arraignments for all four of the defendants are scheduled for next Thursday.
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For background, read “News brief: Drugs, guns seized at south Centralia residence” from Thursday July 7, 2016, here

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The aftermath of a search warrant on South Tower Avenue. / Courtesy photo Penny Martin

The McDonald’s restaurant in Centralia was the scene of a bloody stabbing during the noon hour on Tuesday.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – When police officers contacted Calvin J. Beck, he was bleeding from his face, acting strange and made numerous statements that didn’t make sense.

So say prosecutors about the 50-year-old accused of stabbing a fellow customer in the Centralia McDonalds restaurant earlier this week.

Authorities said Beck had been in line acting belligerent to counter employees and one patron told him to leave, which he did. But he allegedly walked back into the lobby and stabbed the individual who had confronted him.

“There were two guys holding him down and another guy met me at the door,” Centralia Police Department Sgt. Kurt Reichert said of his arrival to the 1200 block of Lum Road following the approximately noontime call on Tuesday. “It was a bloody mess.”

A folding knife with a four-inch blade lay on the counter, where it was placed by the civilians who disarmed the suspect.

The victim, Keith Mohoric, was stabbed twice in the abdomen, according to police. but took part in jumping his attacker and holding him for police.

Mohoric was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and admitted into surgery for his injuries, according to prosecutors. A hospital spokesperson this morning said Mohoric is in good condition.

Beck also was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries he received when he crashed into a window during the fight, police said.

Beck was booked into the Lewis County Jail later that afternoon and charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree assault.

Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke asked the judge to postpone the hearing, so a court order for a competency evaluation could be entered. Judge Nelson Hunt agreed and said Beck should be held overnight without bail.

O’Rourke said she didn’t think he comprehended the proceedings.

“I don’t believe he understands the elements of the crime,” she said.

Beck, who has an Olympia address listed in his court file, has a prior conviction for second-degree assault, according to prosecutors. It’s from 1991.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead got the order for a mental health evaluation signed yesterday.

Specialists from Western State Hospital are expected to visit the defendant at the jail to conduct their examination and lawyers will likely get their report back next week, Halstead said.

Judge Hunt appointed Centralia attorney Don Blair to represent Beck.
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For background, read “News brief: Police investigate stabbing in Centralia McDonald’s restaurant lobby” from Tuesday July 5, 2016, here

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Calvin J. Beck appeared briefly before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday.