MAD DAD
• A 50-year-old Centralia man was jailed after he allegedly threatened his 22-year-old daughter with a knife, swung a golf club at her and threw a book at her late last night. Deputies called to the 100 block of Salzer Road east of Centralia arrested Michael W. Kelly for first-degree assault domestic violence. Deputies also found phone lines cut in the kitchen and in a bedroom. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said she didn’t know why Kelly was angry, but said he was reportedly intoxicated. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.
THEFT AND NO THEFT
• An officer took a report yesterday afternoon of the theft of musical instruments from the 100 block of South Tower Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Centralia police reported nothing was taken in a burglary on the 600 block of North Pearl Street that was reported just before 1 o’clock this morning.
ARRESTED SATURDAY, PLEADS GUILTY BY MID-WEEK
• A Winlock man arrested Saturday night after being chased on his speeding motorcycle by a police officer said he was sorry yesterday and pleaded guilty to attempting to elude. Gerald H. Andersen, 44, went before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court, accompanied by his lawyer Ken Johnson. The Chehalis attorney said his client accepted responsibility and wanted to move forward. Judge James Lawler asked Andersen if he wanted to address the court before he was sentenced. “Mr. Johnson has already said it,” Andersen replied and then continued. “I apologized to the officer, I apologize to the court and everyone involved.” The judge imposed the agreed recommended sentence of one year and a day in prison.
JOANNA MCKENZIE PLEADS TO ONY BURGLARY
• The Morton woman who was charged with attempted burglary in connection with the night in April when an Onalaska property owner opened fire on her and her husband when he discovered them outside his house has pleaded guilty, her attorney said today. Joanna McKenzie, 32, was set to appear in Lewis County Superior Court today to set a date for her sentencing. McKenzie made an Alford plea – meaning she did not admit guilt but agreed she would likely be found guilty if a decision was based only on the facts alleged by prosecutors – according to Centralia defense attorney J.O. Enbody. Her husband, 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton, died from a gunshot wound April 19 outside the house on state Route 508. The man who shot him has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter