Posts Tagged ‘news reporter’

Centralia woman arrested for the child assaults she blamed on her grown daughter

Thursday, September 17th, 2015
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Victoria A. Cheney looks back to the benches in the courtroom as attorneys discuss her bail in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – After weeks of investigating how two little boys ended up bruised and swollen, and arresting and then releasing the girlfriend of their father, authorities arrested the girlfriend’s mother.

Victoria A. Cheney, 44, of Centralia, was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with  two counts of second-degree child assault.

Authorities came to believe the injuries occurred on July 22, while the children, ages 2 and 3, were staying with Cheney and her husband at their home on Little Hanaford Road, according to court papers.

Cheney’s daughter, 22-year-old Chandra M. Munsey, was arrested on July 23 and charged in the case, but prosecutors have since dismissed the charges against her after numerous interviews confirmed her alibi, according to the documents.

The boys stayed a few nights at the Cheney’s, and when their dad Casiano Baldovinos got a phone call telling him to come pick them up, he found both with bruises on their faces, the little one’s left eye almost swollen shut, according to court documents. He reported it to the sheriff’s office.

The boys were taken into protective custody and remain in foster care, the sheriff’s office said yesterday.

Charging documents allege Cheney gave varying accounts of what happened or may have happened, blaming her daughter and describing abusive behavior she said she’d witnessed.

Her husband Don Cheney said he saw the injuries when he returned home from work on July 22.

Cheney is charged also with three counts of witness tampering, as she told detectives she wasn’t even home the day the boys were assaulted, she’d gone to visit friends in Bucoda early that morning and came home to discover the injuries. The friends told detectives Cheney arrived around 1 p.m. and she allegedly asked them to tell detectives she’d shown up much earlier, according to the documents.

She also allegedly asked one of them to write a letter saying he’d witnessed Munsey assault the children.

Detectives spoke to the 3-year-old twice, and when he was asked who hurt him and his brother, both times he said “Grandma Vicky,” according to the documents.

Cheney is also charged with malicious prosecution, for attempting to incriminate her daughter.

“Based upon the investigation, it appears the only person who was with the victims during the time they were assaulted was Mrs. Cheney,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in charging papers.

When she went before a judge yesterday afternoon for a bail hearing, defense attorney Joely O’Rourke argued for lower bail, noting Cheney had a felony case in 2014, but her other history with the law was much older.

While she is currently unemployed, O’Rourke said, it was just two years ago Cheney worked for the county, driving a dump truck and snow plows. She’s a life long Lewis County resident, O’Rourke said.

Judge Richard Brosey set her bail at $100,000, and gave her a court appointed lawyer.

Her arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday.
•••

For background, read “Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigating child assault, one arrested” from Tuesday July 28, 2015, here

Winlock man confessed to trying to kill former girlfriend, gets 18 plus years

Thursday, September 17th, 2015
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Joseph M. Lowery looks over court documents with his lawyer at his sentencing hearing yesterday.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The prison sentence he was given is almost as long as he is old.

Before the judge made the decision, Joseph M. Lowery, the 20-year-old who grew up in Winlock, turned toward his ex-girlfriend sitting in the very back of the courtroom and apologized for shooting her in the back.

“I hope you recover to the best of your abilities,” Lowery said. “I’m sorry for what I did, you didn’t deserve it. I truly am.”

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Joseph M. Lowery

Shyann Gallimore, also 20, and also a resident of the small South Lewis County town, chose not to make a statement to the court.

Lowery was arrested in July after the shooting on the outskirts of Winolequa Park in Winlock.

Prosecutors said Lowery and a 16-year-old boy found Gallimore on a Saturday evening; she was alone, sitting next to a stream and talking on her phone with a friend she’d asked to pick her up.

Authorities said Lowery leaned into some bushes from some 50 feet away and took aim with a 22 caliber pistol, pulled the trigger and then ran off.

“She underwent a procedure to have the bullet removed,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said. “She won’t know what the long term consequences are until time passes.”

Halstead told the judge, yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court, the defendant made a full confession.

He was cooperative with the sheriff’s office, going through a videotaped reenactment of what transpired, defense attorney David Arcuri said.

“What I thought was most striking, was the matter of fact, honest way Mr. Lowery just admitted it,” Arcuri said.

His client was contrite from the beginning, Arcuri said.

Lowery pleaded guilty last week to attempted first-degree murder. As part of the plea deal, Halstead dropped a firearm enhancement, which would have added five years to the sentence.

Halstead and Arcuri both recommended to the judge he be given 220 months – 18 years and four months.

Judge Richard Brosey agreed.

Before Lowery was taken back down to the jail, Brosey ordered him to have no contact for life with the victim. He also gave him three years of supervision following his release from prison.

Lowery’s mother and other family members were in the audience during yesterday’s hearing, but declined to comment.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in its investigation conveyed to prosecutors Lowery had grown tired of his former girlfriend disrespecting the “Juggalo family.” They said he identified himself as a Juggalo, a name for fans of performance artists called the Insane Clown Posse.

Arcuri after the hearing said he wouldn’t discuss what he understood to be the reason his client did what he did.
•••

For background, read “Prosecutors: Winlock park shooter grew tired of ex-girlfriend disrespecting gang” from Tuesday July 21, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015
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•••

CHILD ASSAULT

• Victoria A. Cheney, 44, of Centralia, was arrested yesterday for two counts of second-degree child assault in connection with the discovery at the end of July that two little boys she’d been babysitting sustained multiple injuries including bruises and swelling on much of their bodies, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Cheney was booked in the Lewis County Jail for other offenses as well including witness tampering. Among them is a charge because she allegedly claimed her daughter was to blame for the assault of the toddlers, ages 2 and 3. Cheney’s daughter, 22-year-old Chandra M. Munsey, was arrested on July 23 and charged in Lewis County Superior Court with two counts of second-degree child assault, but prosecutors dropped the charges against her. Cheney is being held on $100,000 bail.

PARENT ASSAULT

• Centralia police were called about 5:50 p.m. yesterday to the 600 block of South Washington Avenue where a 14-year-old girl allegedly tried to stab a parent with a pen. The girl was arrested for second-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BREAK-IN MOSSYROCK

• Deputies responding about 10 o’clock last night to an alarm activation at the 100 block of Jerrells Road outside of Mossyrock found  37-year-old local man in a a travel trailer. When they tried to take him into custody, he was reportedly uncooperative and after being stunned with a Taser, ran off down the driveway, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Eventually James W. McMillion II, from Mossyrock, was located hiding under a bed at his home, according to the sheriff’s office. Shirts, a flashlight, a knife and lighters had been stolen from the trailer, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. McMillion was booked into the Lewis County jail for burglary and resisting arrest, Brown said.

BREAK-IN CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police were called about a burglary at a vacant house on the 200 block of Southwest Riverside Drive yesterday afternoon. A door was kicked in but there was nothing of real value inside to be taken, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that sometime during the past two or so days someone broke into an outbuilding on the 2300 block of Lincoln Creek Road outside Centralia and stole two Stihl chainsaws, with an estimated loss of $1,000.

MISSING MEDS

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon regarding a handful of missing prescription pills from a residence on the 1700 block of South Market Boulevard.

FRAUD

• Centralia police took a report yesterday  from the the 3000 block of Borst Avenue regarding the unauthorized use of a credit card.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 9:10 a.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Alder Street about a vehicle prowl that occurred during the night. The vehicle had been locked, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday about an overnight vehicle prowl at the 1300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue. It had accidentally been left unlocked, but nothing seemed to be missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Four thousand dollars cash plus a bank card were among the items stolen from a vehicle parked near the owner residence on the 600 block of Southeast Dobson Court in Chehalis, according to a report made to police at 7:30 yesterday morning.

DRUGS

• An incoming client at a drug and alcohol treatment program who allegedly brought methamphetamine with him was arrested last night in Chehalis. An officer was called to the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue and subsequently booked  Brad L. Reynolds, 44, of Bremerton, into the Lewis County Jail for possession of meth, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A 52-year-old man wanted for allegedly kicking in the door to a business on the 1200 block of Long Road in Centralia on Monday evening was arrested yesterday afternoon and found to have suspected methamphetamine on him. William F. Eberle, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary, malicious mischief, obstruction and possession of meth, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

LOST AND FOUND

• A pair of horses turned up yesterday morning in the yard 50-year-old man, west of Chehalis at the 100 block of Urquhart Road. The sheriff’s office believes they may have come from Brown Road East, given a trail of horse manure. One is gray, one is black, they were shoeless and hadn’t had hoof trims for awhile, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The animals were impounded and being held at the Chehalis Livestock Market in hopes the owner can be identified, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, anti-harassment order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances, hit and run, misdemeanor theft, barking neighbor dog … and more.

News brief: Large family displaced from Toledo house fire

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Nobody was hurt but a house was severely damaged and it’s occupants have been displaced following a fire yesterday in Toledo.

Fire Investigator Ted McCarty said he believed they are a mother and three children, plus three grandchildren who resided at the home on the 800 block of Jackson Highway South.

Firefighters called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday learned it started in a pump house, spread to the adjacent garage and then to the house itself, according to McCarty and Lewis County Fire District 2 Chief Dave Germain.

The Red Cross is assisting them with housing, McCarty said.

McCarty said he didn’t think he was going to be able to pinpoint the exact cause, as the pump house was too far gone.

The flames got into the eves and then the attic and partially collapsed the roof, he said. The kitchen and laundry room were gutted, with other parts of the residence sustaining smoke and water damage.

The family lost a lot of their belongings, he said.

McCarty took the opportunity to remind the public that renters insurance isn’t all that expensive, as unfortunately the residents didn’t have it.

He estimated the repairs could be in the neighborhood of $40,000.

News brief: Little boy escapes stranger who tries to pull him off his bicycle

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Police say they don’t know if an encounter in a Centralia neighborhood yesterday was an attempted theft of a bicycle or attempted kidnapping of the child riding it.

Officers were called just after 5:30 p.m. and spoke to the 7-year-old victim who said he was riding in the area near his home in the 1500 block of Delaware Avenue when a male approached him, according to the Centralia Police Department.

He said the male suddenly grabbed him and tried to pull him off his bike, Officer John Panco said. The male was unsuccessful and the little boy was able to ride away, Panco said.

Officers checked the area, but didn’t locate a suspect, according to police.

The child’s description was vague, Panco said. The subject was described as a white male, with black clothing and black shoes, he said.

The boy said he’d never seen the person before and wasn’t sure if he would recognize him if he saw him again, according to Panco.

The responding officer indicated in the report it’s not known if he was trying to take the bicycle or the victim, Panco said.

News brief: Fisherman hospitalized after near drowning on Cowlitz River

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

Updated at 11:24 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Update: The sheriff’s office reports he passed away just before 5 p.m. yesterday.

Previously: A fly fisherman who slipped into the Cowlitz River but was pulled to safety by another person fishing yesterday was transferred to the intensive care unit of Providence St. Peter Hospital, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was unconscious but the rescuer performed CPR.

It happened about 500 yards downstream from the Blue Creek Boat Launch south of Ethel.

The sheriff’s office identifies the victim as a 63-year-old resident of Gig Harbor.

According to the sheriff’s office, witnesses saw him wading out in to the water, going farther in when he apparently slipped and went under into a current. The other fishermen saw the incident and jumped in and dragged the man to shore.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said she is waiting this morning to learn more about his condition.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, September 15th, 2015
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•••

UPSET BIKER SOUGHT BY POLICE

• A man apparently angry that a motorist “almost killed him” on his bike allegedly kicked in a door to a business on Long Road in Centralia late yesterday afternoon, but took off before police arrived. Centralia police who happened to be in the area of the 1200 block of Long Road at the time of the approximately 5:20 p.m. 911 call got into a short foot pursuit with a suspect, but lost sight of him, according to the Centralia Police Department. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said it learned the individual who told employees his name was looking for keys to the offending large black truck, inside Lexar Homes. Officers and a Chehalis police dog searched the area without success, and contact at the man’s home at the nearby Peppertree RV Park was attempted, according to the sheriff’s office. The case is being referred to prosecutors for a charge of burglary, as law enforcement keeps an eye out for 52-year-old William F. Eberle, according to authorities.

MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN BUCODA BAT ATTACK

The Olympian reports a baseball bat wielding Thurston County man who assaulted another man in Bucoda last month was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday in Thurston County Superior Court. News reporter Andy Hobbs writes that Travis J. Ritzenthaler, 28, was arrested three days after the Aug. 1 incident that left the victim with numerous injuries including a broken nose, skull and cheek fractures.

UNDERAGE DRINKING

• Chehalis police called just after 8 p.m. yesterday regarding a group of teens on foot cussing and fighting at Cascade Avenue near Second Street ended up arresting three 15-year-old boys for minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol. They were then released pending court, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Morton police responded twice on Sunday to reports of tires slashed on vehicles. An officer responding to he first incident just before 2 a.m. at the 200 block of Main Street spotted three juveniles who ran down a street when they saw the officer, according to the Morton Police Department. The second instance was reported at 5 p.m. the same day at the the 200 block of Division Street, according to police.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, receipt of counterfeit bill, assistance with suicidal person, somebody sleeping in a vehicle … and more.