Archive for September, 2016

Centralia 2012: One defendant in rape of 13-year-old gets a plea deal

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
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Tyler M. McKee and his lawyer face a judge this morning in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A former Chehalis man admitted today he took advantage of a 13-year-old girl at a Centralia party when he was 19 years old.

Tyler M. McKee has been held since the end of July on $100,000 bail in the Lewis County Jail in connection with the 2012 case.

He and his lawyer made a deal with prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child molestation, while a charge of second-degree rape of a child was dropped.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt asked McKee if the words printed on his admission were what happened, that on May 4, 2012, he had sexual contact with a person under 14 and encouraged, aided and abetted another to also have sexual contact with the same victim.

McKee agreed and the judge asked if McKee knew her age.

“No, I didn’t know,” McKee said.

Earlier this summer, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office secured an arrest warrant for one of three males the 13-year-old girl believed engaged in sex with her at the party, when she was so drunk she could not walk. DNA collected from her pants and McKee were a match, according to court documents.

The now 22-year-old was living in Las Vegas and returned to Lewis County at the end of July.

After this morning’s court hearing, the judge imposed a no-bail hold and scheduled a date to return to court for Oct. 20.

His sentencing can’t take place until after the state Department of Corrections completes a pre-sentencing investigation in which the state agency will make its recommendation for how long he should be locked up.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said the standard sentencing range for McKee is 31 to 41 months and the state will recommend 41.

McKee is represented by Centralia lawyer J.P. Enbody.

Another 22-year-old was arrested last week in connection with the same incident. Geffrey A. Duncan of Chehalis is charged with second-degree rape of a child.

He told the judge when he appeared in court on Friday he has no idea who the victim is. His bail was $25,000.
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For background, read “Suspect in rape of girl at 2012 Centralia party arrested in Vegas” from Monday August 1, 2016, here

Pe Ell parents convicted of striking, bruising child

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
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Diana M. Rogerson consults with her lawyer Chris Baum today in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 37-year-old mother entered into a plea agreement and was sentenced today in a case in which she spanked her 7-year-old daughter so hard it left a bruise.

Diana M. Rogerson was given 60 days in jail and ordered to undergo drug and alcohol treatment as well as treatment pertaining to domestic violence, according to Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt told Rogerson her right to possess firearms is revoked, following her plea of guilty to fourth-degree assault domestic violence.

Rogerson was charged in June with third-degree assault of a child shortly after her husband was charged with the same offense for a different incident involving the girl, his stepdaughter.

Joseph W. Rogerson was arrested after the girl told a school counselor her step-father punched her in the arm when she tried to get him to stop hitting her mom, while the family was target shooting in the woods near Pe Ell.

The family lived in Pe Ell.

Because of the arrest, Joseph Rogerson, 37, lost his deferred prosecution in a case of driving under the influence, from an arrest last summer after a head-on crash in Onalaska that killed three teenagers. The investigation by the Washington State Patrol concluded he was traveling in his own lane and not to blame for the wreck.

Joseph Rogerson has pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault and is awaiting sentencing in Lewis County District Court.

The case was assigned to Child Protective Services. The children went to live with their father in Toledo.

Diana Rogerson will be allowed to serve her time with electronic home monitoring, if she qualifies, according to Halstead. Otherwise she will have to check in to the Lewis County Jail by Oct. 11. The judge also ordered her not to have any contact with her daughter, until she fulfills her obligations, he said.

She admitted taking a folded belt to her daughter, something the girl’s older brother told deputies happened after the child  refused to say prayers at dinnertime.
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For background, read “Pe Ell mother faces charge of assault of her child” from Tuesday June 21, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
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NIGHTTIME INTRUDERS NEAR BARN

• Deputies were called just after 9 p.m. yesterday to the 200 block of Lincoln Creek Road west of Centralia when a resident investigating flashlights in his field seen headed toward his barn encountered two males who shoved him against a wall and fled. A neighbor had called to report hearing yelling and vehicles driving behind a residence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 43-year-old victim tried to pursue the males on foot, but nobody was found, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said it’s not yet known if anything was stolen, but they are investigating.

BURGLARY

• Chehalis police were called at 1:50 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a second-degree burglary at the 300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue. Further details are not yet available, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to a business on the 1600 block of North National Avenue where someone made a hole in the exterior wall at the back of a business and had been removing unspecified items.

• Centralia police were called about 7:25 a.m. yesterday to the 1600 block of North Pearl Street where someone had broken into a storage shed and made off with a shotgun, a rifle and two archery bows.

THEFT

• An officer was called to the 500 block of Southwest 18th Street in Chehalis about 3:15 p.m. yesterday to take that mail had been stolen.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested a 20-year-old Oakville resident for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant last night.  Natasha C Henderson was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with an officer about 9:45 p.m. at the 500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 61-year-old Silver Creek man was booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence after he totaled his 1997 Ford pickup truck last night, colliding with a guard rail on Stowell Road near Gore Road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy responded to the approximately 11:48 p.m. single-vehicle collision, noted the driver had failed to negotiate a curve and arrested Ted C. Hamrick, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, protection order violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, trespassing, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, barking neighbor dog … and more among 194 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016
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TOOL HEIST

• Chehalis police were called about 11:10 a.m. yesterday about a break-in to an outbuilding on the 1500 block of North National Avenue. Among the items taken sometime over the weekend were a Milwaukee sawzall, a Ryobi 18-volt charger, a Ryobi impact driver, a Stihl hand-held blower, two more Stihl blowers and a 20-inch power saw chain, according to the Chehalis Police Department. There are no suspects, according to police.

• Centralia police were called to the 900 block of West Pear Street about 5 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a burglary to a garage. A generator was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN

• A deputy was called yesterday to the 600 block of Nevil Road in Winlock to take a report of a possible attempted burglary. The resident found screens removed from two windows and a key broken in a lock, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

DRUGS

• When police were called by an individual who said there were three males trespassing on his property at the 1000 block of Northwest Prindle Street in Chehalis just before 2 p.m. yesterday, one of them was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant and subsequently suspected methamphetamine was found in his jacket pocket, according to authorities. Joseph K. Hansen, 23, from Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• A 24-year-old Chehalis woman went before a judge today, charged with first-degree theft in connection with more than $24,000 allegedly missing from her workplace, a liquor and wine store at the Twin City Town Center where she was employed from December until March. Amberly M. Morehead reportedly told police she got behind on her bills, took money from work and intended to pay it back but kept getting further behind. Chehalis police began investigating on March 26 when the manager reported he had suspicions of internal theft, according to charging documents. The manager told police the cash reports came up short nearly every time Morehead worked, but it didn’t happen with other employees, according to the documents. He showed the officer video images that indicated her selling bottles of whiskey, but not scanning them or printing a receipt and provided paperwork that showed $1,850 cash taken from the store, refunds of $4,756.29 Morehead allegedly made to herself and $17,987.33 in alleged fraudulent returns to herself, according to the court documents. Charges were filed on Sept. 1 and Morehead was summonsed to appear this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court. A judge allowed her to remain free on a $10,000 unsecured bond and set her arraignment for Sept. 29.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, malicious mischief, driving under the influence, driving with no license; responses for alarm, dispute,  hit and run, third-degree theft, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 167 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: DNR eases outdoor burning restrictions

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Continued fall weather conditions have led the state Department of Natural Resources to lift its outdoor burning ban on the forest lands it’s responsible for protecting from wildfires in Western Washington, as of 12:01 a.m. today.

A prohibition on outdoor burning put in place in unincorporated areas of Lewis County on Aug. 2 has yet to be rescinded, but in the past the county has followed the lead of the state agency, often within a day or two.

Recreational campfires were prohibited for a period but were allowed again beginning Labor Day weekend.

““The fall weather pattern shows us it’s time to lift western Washington’s burn ban,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark stated in a news release. “It will also permit us to ease the burn ban east of the Cascades by allowing campfires in some locations.”

County burn bans may still be in effect in various locations throughout Washington, and residents should check with local fire districts for information.

DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forest lands in Washington.

News brief: Robbery victim struck with piece of concrete

Tuesday, September 20th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police are investigating a report of an incident last night in which a man in his mid-20s said he was jumped on a Centralia street by a group of five people.

The victim reported he was approached and they demanded a cigarette from him and when he didn’t have one, he was beat and hit in the face with a piece of concrete.

The attackers then stole his cell phone, his iPod and a Bluetooth speaker, according to the Centralia Police Department.

It happened on First Street near Euclid Way around 10 p.m., according to police.

Officer Doug Lowrey said the victim was seen at Providence Centralia and his injuries were minor. He’s from Olympia, according to Lowrey.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, September 19th, 2016
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•••

INTERRUPTED BURGLARY

• Centralia police were called to the 600 block of Field Avenue about 8 p.m. on Saturday after a resident heard noises and found a stranger in the downstairs of the home. The male, and possibly two other individuals, fled after being discovered, according to the Centralia Police Department. A K-9 arrived to conduct a track which was unsuccessful, according to police. A Honda lawnmower was missing from a shed there, according to police.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 7 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle theft from the 1000 block of Southeast Washington Avenue. The missing vehicle was located about 9:45 p.m. in an alley behind that location, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just after 7 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle stolen from the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue and later located the vehicle traveling on Main Street. The two occupants were booked for outstanding warrants and the victim no longer wanted to pursue charges, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called on Friday to the 1100 block of J Street where a white 1992 four-door Honda had been stolen during the night.

MORE THEFT

• Someone stole four marijuana plants off a porch on the 200 block of Southwest 10th Avenue in Chehalis, according to a report made to police just after 9 a.m. on Friday.

• A generator was stolen from the 1000 block of J Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police on Friday morning.

• Plants were stolen from the front yard of a residence on the 800 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police at about 4:20 p.m. on Friday.

• Police were called about 3:10 p.m. on Friday regarding the theft of mail from the 1300 block of Lakeshore Drive in Centralia.

• A delivered package was stolen from a front porch on the 400 block of West Center Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police just after 9 a.m. on Friday.

• Centralia police were contacted on Saturday by an almost-victim who reported they responded to a Craigslist ad about a home for rent that was actually not available for rent. “The suspect’s intent was to collect first and last month’s rent though in this instance no money was sent prior to the victim learning of the attempted scam,” according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 9:15 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 500 block of Madison Street in Centralia. A backpack was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• An officer was called about 8:15 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue. Someone had broken out the window, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 3:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1000 block of Eckerson Road in Centralia where someone had stolen a pressure washer from the back of a truck, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about a vehicle prowl at the 300 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia at about 6:50 p.m. on Friday. Missing were CDs and a solar charger, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 30-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and two warrants after contact with a deputy shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the 1400 block of Oxford Avenue in Centralia. Cassandra L. Aparicio was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• When a Chehalis police officer stopped a vehicle with a suspect from a Centralia malicious mischief at about 1 a.m. on Sunday on state Route 6, the officer observed suspected marijuana in the vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A Centralia officer booked Mitchell J. Wilson, 18 of Chehalis, into the Lewis County Jail in connection with him allegedly breaking the windshield of a vehicle at the 1300 block of Oxford Avenue, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A school bus was rear-ended by a passenger car at the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia just before 1 p.m. on Friday.. There were no children on the bus at the time and the damage was very minimal, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, domestic malicious mischief, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, driving without required interlock device; responses for alarm, dispute,  hit and run, third-degree theft, windows  to a business broken, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 445 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.