The man named in court documents as Huber Juarez-Arellano approaches the defense table for his bail hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The individual accused of stealing a pickup truck from a Chehalis dealership during a test drive – by brandishing a toy gun – and leading law enforcement officers on a wild chase into Cowlitz County appeared before a judge this afternoon where lawyers discussed his bail.
But first, Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler asked if his name was indeed Huber Juarez-Arellano.
“I don’t know who was messing with my ID,” the young man replied.
Lawler told him all he wanted to know at that point, was if that was his name.
“Yes,” he said.
A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office commander yesterday identified the arrestee as Huber (no middle initial) Juarez-Arellano, 21, from Vancouver, Washington. A different spokesperson from the office this morning said he was Huber J. Arellano. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office reported he is Huber Juarez-Vasques, 22, of Kelso.
Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge her temporary client lives and works in the Salem, Oregon area.
When Lawler asked him did understood the charges, his rights and the potential penalties, long pauses followed before the heavily tattooed man responded affirmatively to each query.
“He does have some mental health issues he wants the court to consider,” O’Rourke told the judge.
Juarez-Arellano – as he is named in court documents, based on the identification left at I-5 Toyota – is charged with first-degree robbery, attempting to elude and first-degree malicious mischief.
The sheriff’s office says when he and a sales associate took a 2011 Ford F150 pickup for a drive yesterday morning, he pulled out what looked like a pistol and ordered the 46-year-old man out of the vehicle near Hamilton and Labree roads south of Chehalis. And then took off.
An Airsoft gun he allegedly threw out a window was recovered.
Charging documents speak of deputies and troopers pursuing on a backroad at 30 to 40 mph above the speed limit, with the suspect vehicle swerving into oncoming lanes and ignoring stop signs and other traffic warnings.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office reported the truck ran through a fence near a weigh station south of Castle Rock. Charging documents describe part of the journey as cutting across the northbound lanes of Interstate 5, crossing the median and heading into the southbound lanes before driving through a barricade onto a frontage road.
“Frankly, everyone’s lucky someone did not die,” Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told the judge.
Meyer asked for bail of $750,000, based in part on juvenile convictions of second-degree assault and harassment. O’Rourke asked for $50,000, telling the judge Juarez-Arellano works multiple jobs and supports his wife, three young children, his mother and his brother.
She also said he receives disability payments and appeared to qualify for a court-appointed attorney.
“He is denying he is the alleged suspect in the probable cause statement,” O’Rourke said.
Bail was set at $500,000. His arraignment was scheduled for next Thursday morning with Centralia lawyer David Arcuri to represent him.
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For background, read “Chehalis salesman carjacked during test drive” from Wednesday June 10, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
SHAUUUUUUU
Ah Chico you must be one of the family members that your brother supports on his disability check.
Shut up fool
Keep my families last name out your filthy mouth!!!!
You people from Mexico come to our great country and make the rest of your people look bad. I dont understand this behavior. Mexico is full of crime and mexicans claim their looking for a better life, yet you come here and shit all over our neighborhoods sign up on welfare have kids you cant take care of and expect the working man to foot the bill. This person Juarez makes the whole mexican community look bad. Just like those little loco gang members and the 13th gangs that were locked up a few years ago. Dont come to my country and shit in my yard. Come here to work and set an example for your people. Instead you do this type of stuff and you wonder why your people are not welcome. America has enough concrete and barbed wire to house you all. This community will not stand for your peoples behavior . Chico. No ones going to prison except ur Homie Comprenda?
Too bad the salesman didn’t have a CCW and ventilate that leech.
Haha that’s my primo stop hating bitches.
You’ll be out soon primaso
SHAUUUUU
how can one person support six people? don’t the rest of the family work? why is he on disability? too many unanswered questions.
His next charge needs to be disability fraud. How can you work three jobs and get money too. I guess when he stole the truck it was his day off.
His lawyer says he works 3 jobs and receives disability check. At 22 already has 3 kids. Can bet you they have some disability that gets them a govmint check.
Between his mom, wife, 3 kids and himself they probably live pretty well on the govmint. The United States is a wonderful place.
Still not enough for a new F150? Steal it. Need a lawyer? The taxpayer will provide. The United States – what a great country.
Not from Lewis County I rest my case. This criminal is on disability. If you were to add up everyone that is on Welfare the digital soup line would cross the United States 13 times. To bad we cant send him back to country of orgin when hes finished with his prison sentence. Close our boarders and protect America.