Charge: Juvenile rehab counselor engaged in sexual misconduct with minor

February 8th, 2018
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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An arraignment is scheduled for next week for a Centralia woman accused of having a sexual relationship with a male 20 years her junior while he was a resident of Green Hill School and she was employed as a juvenile rehabilitation counselor.

The complaint was made by the alleged victim in the summer of 2016, but criminal charges were just filed last month in Lewis County Superior Court.

Katherine M. Kimbrel, 41, was summonsed to appear before a judge on Tuesday and was allowed release pending trial on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

The alleged incidents occurred between Jan. 1, 2013, when the alleged victim was 15 years old, and continued through Dec. 31, 2015 after he turned 18, according to charging documents.

Green Hill in Chehalis is run by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, a division of the Department of Social and Health Services. It’s a secure facility in Chehalis that provides older, male offenders education and vocational training.

The alleged victim, now 20, said he and Kimbrel had sexual contact which continued when he was in custody at the the juvenile detection center’s Touchstone Community facility in Olympia, according to charging documents. Touchstone is a transitional facility.

He said on several occasions she picked him up from his workplace in Olympia and took him to her apartment, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer wrote in the court documents.

Kimbrel allegedly admitted to an unprofessional sexual relationship with the teen both inside and outside the Green Hill School facility, but denied any physical contact inside the facility, according to Meyer. She was interviewed by a detective Bjorkman and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Meyer wrote.

Meyer indicates she said she did not report some actions, because she was afraid she would be blamed and lose her job. Numerous incomplete sentences in the charging documents leave it unclear which facility is the setting related to some of the various statements.

Meyer states in the charging documents that prior to the alleged victim coming forward on Aug. 13, 2016, three additional allegations regarding Kimbrel were investigated but screened out for lack of evidence.

She was charged on Jan. 9 with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and first-degree custodial sexual misconduct, both of which are offenses with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She was also charged with communication with a minor for immoral purposes, a gross misdemeanor.

Kimbrel was ordered to undergo administrative booking at the Lewis County Jail. Defense attorney Jacob Clark was appointed to represent her.

The arraignment is set for next Thursday in Lewis County Superior Court.

Centralia motorist taken to Harborview after multiple vehicle I-5 wreck

February 8th, 2018
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White 1998 Dodge Ram pickup on Interstate 5 near Labree Road. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 54-year-old Centralia man was the driver of a pickup truck that struck the center barrier on Interstate 5 south of Chehalis and was hit by two different semi trucks on Tuesday morning. James P.  Holmes was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to the Washington State Patrol.

State patrol spokesperson Will Finn said the 1998 Dodge Ram pickup rolled and caught fire.

Firefighters called about 4:10 a.m. to the southbound lanes near Labree Road arrived to find an off-duty Seattle firefighter already on the scene helping the driver.

The collisions shoved the jersey barrier into the oncoming lane where it was struck by a northbound Honda Civic driven by 40-year-old Tony C. Kim of Olympia. Kim was injured and transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol.

Both the Dodge and the Honda were described as totaled. Both semi trucks were damaged and towed. Each of the big rigs was pulling two trailers, according to the investigating trooper.

The driver of one of them, from Vancouver, was also transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol.

The cause of the southbound collision is under investigation.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 8th, 2018
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ASSAULT

• A 44-year-old Centralia man was arrested for second-degree assault after police responded about 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday to the 600 block of West Main Street. Otto K. Banick was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. His case is also being referred to prosecutors for driving under the influence, according to police.

• Chehalis police were called about 1:40 p.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street to take a report that a 16-year-old student-inmate at Green Hill School had on Jan. 27 allegedly during a fight thrown a staff member to the ground and groped another staff member. A case is being referred to prosecutors for custodial assault, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

BURGLARY AND THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 8:10 p.m. yesterday regarding theft of clothing, food and change from a residence at the 200 block of South Street.

• Police were called to the 1300 block of Alexander Street in Centralia about 4:15 p.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of money from a resident’s room.

• An extension ladder was stolen from a rear yard at the 700 block of G Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 11:30 a.m. yesterday.

• Centralia police were called to the 1300 block of View Avenue about 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday regarding a burglary to a shed. No loss has been determined, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 10:25 p.m. yesterday by an individual at the 600 block of Northeast Franklin Avenue who discovered their white 1993 Chevrolet S10 pickup was missing. The truck had political stickers on the tailgate, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Audrey C. Jacobsen, 30, of Centralia, was arrested and booked for vehicle prowl in a Tuesday afternoon case associated with the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A phone was stolen from a vehicle at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called to the 900 block of South Gold Street just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday to take a report of a suspicious account.

INDECENCY

• Tyler B. Cook, 44, of West Lynn, was arrested and booked for indecent exposure following a call about 3:40 p.m. on Tuesday to the 100 block of West High Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 4 p.m. yesterday to take a report of vandalism to a deputy’s patrol car while at the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue. A tire was punctured in a manner consistent with the use of a knife, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• The side window of a vehicle was broken at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue  in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were called about 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday to Main Street and Harrison Avenue for a hit and run to an occupied vehicle. The victim sustained minor injuries, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, fourth-degree assault; responses for alarm, dispute, trespassing, vehicle collision, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft … and more among 284 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 6th, 2018
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Updated

DRUGS

• An individual arrested for an outstanding warrant about 9:40 p.m. yesterday at the 100 block of Conifer Lane in Toledo was further arrested after a strip search at the Lewis County Jail turned up a small bag of prescription medications. Lake Gregson, 28, Toledo, was booked for introducing contraband to a correctional facility, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 29-year-old Olympia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after being detained for a shoplifting incident reported about 3:15 p.m. yesterday at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. Desarae L. Reynolds was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARM

• Deputies called for a potentially suicidal person at the 100 block of Guerrier Road about 9:50 p.m. yesterday subsequently arrested a 53-year-old Tacoma man wanted on a warrant for rape out of Pierce County. David W. Love is ineligible to possess firearms so he was arrested for both the warrant and for unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

UNRULY VISITOR

• Centralia police called just before 7 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road arrested a 38-year-old Centralia woman for for interfering with a healthcare facility. Trisha A. Carpenter, 38, of Centralia was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

INTRUDER

• Chehalis police were called about 2:40 p.m. yesterday to a building at the 1900 block of South Market Boulevard where a door had been kicked in. Nothing appeared to be missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 4:20 p.m. yesterday by an individual at the 800 block of North Pearl Street who reported someone used her debit card without her permission, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• A tablet was stolen in a vehicle prowl at the 400 block of West Main Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 3:40 p.m. yesterday.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to the 300 block of West Main Street about 4:50 p.m. yesterday where someone had broken out the window of a parked motor home.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A pickup truck driver was seriously injured this morning in a collision on southbound Interstate 5 near Labree Road. Authorities say the truck rolled and caught fire. The Chehalis Fire Department responding about 4:30 a.m. discovered an off-duty Seattle firefighter was on the scene helping the driver, Firefighter Jay Birley said. Another collision in the same area in the northbound lanes drew firefighters from Lewis County Fire District 5, 6 and Riverside Fire Authority, according to Birley. Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn tweeted later in the morning the southbound lanes were closed, and a portion of the jersey barrier had been shoved into the northbound lane.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, disorderly conduct, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, third-degree malicious mischief … and more among 146 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 5th, 2018
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Updated at 1:56 p.m.

GUNS TAKEN IN HOME BURGLARY

• A deputy called to a residence at the 700 block of state Route 7 in Morton about 3:20 p.m. on Friday learned that three firearms and other valuables had been stolen. The victims arrived home and saw a window had been broken out,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Among the missing guns are a Taurus .44 magnum revolver, according to the sheriff’s office.

GAME MISSING FROM HOME

• Chehalis police were called to the 400 block of Southwest William Avenue about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday where an individual reported the theft of a Xbox and related items.

ASSAULT

• Aaron W. Martin, 52, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for burglary and felony order violation when he allegedly entered the residence of a female that had a protection order against him and assaulted her at the 400 block of North Oak Street in Centralia, according to a report made to the Centralia Police Department about 4:35 p.m. on Saturday.

BUSINESS BURGLED

• A deputy arriving about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to investigate a burglary to a building at the 1500 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis learned a gun-metal gray CO2 pistol was missing from a desk drawer and a surveillance system stolen. Damaged was a cash register drawer and a door jamb, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The break-in occurred sometime after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Chehalis police were called to the 2100 block of North National Avenue about 12:45 p.m. on Saturday to take a report of a break-in to a storage locker. The Chehalis Police Department is awaiting a list of the items stolen.

• Someone shattered a back door to a store with a rock at the 2700 block of Jackson Highway in Chehalis and stole about $200 from a cash register, according to a report made about 7:15 a.m. on Friday to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Someone broke into a company trailer at a construction site at the 3900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia sometime between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on Friday and stole a chainsaw and a laser level, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

FAMILY WATERCRAFT STOLEN

• Centralia police called about 10:45 a.m. yesterday to take a report associated with the 100 block of North Oak Street concluded a 14-year-old boy had stolen his mother’s kayaks and sold them online. He was arrested and booked into Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for theft and trafficking in stolen property, according to the Centralia Police Department.

RV STOLEN

• A $10,000 Kiwi travel trailer with tent pop-outs was reported missing yesterday from the 600 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A 28-year-old man reported he was watching television about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday when he heard his vehicle start up, then he opened the door and saw his truck heading south away from the 1600 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis. Stolen is a 1977 Ford F150 silver with dark gray truck, with a black tool box and tinted windows, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

FRAUD

• An individual reported about 11:20 a.m. on Saturday that someone opened a Verizon cell phone account in his name using his identity, in a case associated with the 900 block of South Gold Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Timothy M. Baloga, 46, of Centralia was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for identity theft and a warrant following a traffic stop for speeding about 8:40 a.m. on Saturday at the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. He allegedly  identified himself with his brother’s information. Upon further questioning and investigation his true identity was uncovered, according to police.

• A 36-year-old resident of Pe Ell was arrested for a warrant, making a false statement and resisting arrest after initially giving Chehalis police a false name after he was contacted around 2 p.m. on Saturday on South Market Boulevard. Louie J. Muller was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 47-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after contact with police about 2:50 a.m. today at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue. Nina L. Eklund was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 22-year-old Centralia resident arrested about 12:30 p.m. yesterday on a warrant at the 600 block of West Main Street was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Jody L. Forga was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 31-year-old Winlock resident was arrested for an outstanding warrant and then for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act after being contacted by a sheriff’s deputy about 11:50 a.m. on Friday in the area of Backstrom and Coma roads in Winlock. Evan S. Kranz allegedly had tin foil in a coat pocket, and a brown tar-like substance field-tested positive for heroin, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Kranz was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

BAD BILL

• Centralia police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Mellen Street because a counterfeit $100 bill had been passed at a gas station.

SPRINKLERS SAVE CASA RAMOS

• A Centralia restaurant sustained light heat and smoke damage in its kitchen from a small fire found burning on the floor around a large natural gas burner, according to Riverside Fire Authority. Crews called because of smoke just before midnight on Saturday to the 900 block of Harrison Avenue had to force their way into the building which was closed, according to the fire department. The main fire had been controlled with the hood sprinkler system, Fire Capt. Tim Adolphsen stated.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 54-year-old Chehalis resident was reportedly uninjured when he totaled his car last night but a deputy smelled the odor of intoxicants so the man was arrested for driving under the influence. A deputy arriving about 8:45 p.m. to the intersection of Highway 603 and Devereese Road learned the 2005 Ford Taurus had run a stop sign and hit a gate, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. John P. Rothlin was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, hit and run, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, trespassing, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, no contact order violation … and more among 396 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Pacific Ocean claims Toledo woman

February 4th, 2018

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The body of a 61-year-old Toledo woman who vanished in the surf while clam digging with her husband was located yesterday morning between the Cranberry and Midway beach approaches in Pacific County.

The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office reports a 911 call came in at 9:01 p.m. on Friday reporting the woman missing near the Warrenton Cannery Road. She and her husband had become separated earlier in the evening, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rescue personnel from several agencies were immediately dispatched to the scene and began searching the area. Her body was located about 5:38 a.m. yesterday, Sheriff Scott Johnson stated in a press release.

She was identified as Sharon K. Leseman.

Johnson said she was one of two people who perished in the surf while clam digging on ocean beaches in the county on Friday.

The first 911 call came just minutes previous on Friday night, for a 70-year-old Ocean Park woman, missing from the Oysterville Beach. Her body was found at 5 p.m. yesterday near Westport in Grays Harbor County, according to Johnson. She also had been accompanied by her spouse.

“These incidents serve as a tragic reminder that one must always be vigilant of the powerful surf and waves that are often present on our ocean beaches,” Johnson stated.

The sheriff reminds the public to always stay close to other clammers, bring a flashlight or lantern, a waterproof cell phone, and never turn your back on the surf as “sneaker waves” can appear at any time.

FBI detects child porn sent by Centralia teen’s phone

February 2nd, 2018

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 18-year-old Centralia resident who allegedly shared a sexually explicit video of a young girl in a conversation on his cell phone appeared in Lewis County Superior Court today, after being summonsed to appear.

Steven D. Young was charged by Lewis County prosecutors on Jan. 2 with first-degree dealing in depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Conviction can bring a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $$20,000 fine.

Charging documents written in December state that the Centralia Police Department received a referral from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, contending Young was conversing with an un-named person using the KIK application on his phone.

During the conversation, Young sent a video to the person showing an approximately 12-year-old girl masturbating, according to the allegations. He also allegedly claimed to be having sex with young girls, the documents relate.

An accompanying court document alleges the incident occurred on July 26.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer writes that Young was interviewed by police and initially denied knowing of the conversation.

He allegedly eventually recalled the conversation and video and said he needed counseling and should go to jail, and also claimed to being threatened, which caused him to send the video, Meyer wrote.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello told a judge this afternoon Young has no criminal history whatsoever and requested he be allowed release pending trial on a $20,000 unsecured bond.

Judge Andrew Toynbee agreed.

His arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 15.