Court and Crime Briefs

Twanoh State Park subcontractor sues over lost equipment

A subcontractor that worked on a culvert installation project at Twanoh State Park has sued the main contractor and Washington State Parks for failing to return equipment or pay the subcontractor for loss, according to a complaint filed in Mason County Superior Court Dec. 12.

OMA Construction performed dewatering work for SEA Construction on the park project.

“Upon completion of follow up work, it was agreed that the dewatering system would be returned to OMA,” the complaint states.

SEA didn’t return the equipment and has refused to reimburse OMA, according to the complaint.

The subcontractor wants $26,766.05 for the cost of the equipment and is seeking payment from WSP’s retainage bond, the complaint states.

Convicted sex offender fails to register, still here

A sex offender convicted in 2022 in Mason County Superior Court for first-degree child molestation failed to register after being released from prison in December 2023.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office discovered Juan Hernandez-Zacharias, 23, had not complied with required registration when MCSO Deputy Montejo found Hernandez-Zacharias on Dec. 3 “having intercourse with a young female at the Bell Towne Car Wash in Belfair,” according to a probable cause document.

After Hernandez-Zacharias’ release, he was subject to an ICE detainer, according to court documents.

“If not deported to Guatemala, he will reside in Kitsap County,” according to a note in Offender Watch, the probable cause document states.

“Following his release from custody, whether he was deported to Guatemala or released to Kitsap County, there is no record of Hernandez-Zacharias registering as a sex offender,” according to the probable cause document.

Washington state issued Hernandez-Zacharias a driver’s license with a Belfair address 10 days after his alleged release to ICE, according to Montejo.

Hernandez-Zacharias “made no attempt” to register with MCSO as a sex offender and was arrested Dec. 6.

Judge Daniel Goodell released Hernandez-Zacharias on $2,500 bail.

Court documents show Hernandez-Zacharias’ initial arraignment Dec. 23 was canceled due to a clerical error and currently has not been rescheduled.

Suspect allegedly grabs for officer’s gun

MCSO deputies arrested a suspect at Lake Isabella State Park after a deputy stopped to investigate a car parked at Lake Isabella State Park after hours and an aggressive suspect tried to grab the deputy’s gun, according to a probable cause document.

On Dec. 5, Deputy McCullough was on patrol when he saw a vehicle parked at the closed state park.

The driver’s seat was empty, but McCullough spoke with two passengers, telling them they were trespassing.

The two men “seemed to understand and then began to claim not to speak English,” McCullough wrote.

He said they indicated the driver was inside the park restroom.

The deputy could smell alcohol in the car and asked the men for identification, according to the probable cause document.

Both men allegedly said they did not have identification.

The front-seat passenger, later identified as E.H.J., “was wearing a red hat and had a red bandanna in the center console. Based on my training and experience within Mason County, many young Hispanic males will wear either red or blue to identify themselves as gang members associated with Nortenos or Surenos of Mexican American origination. The ‘Norteno’ gang members often wear red colored clothing which I have seen multiple times at various calls for service,” McCullough wrote.

The deputy patted down E.H.J. for weapons and finding none, told him to get back in the car. The back seat passenger told McCullough his name was Frankly and McCullough told him to remain in the car, the document states.

McCullough returned to his patrol car to check the parked vehicle’s plates and saw Frankly, later identified as Benito Obed Calmo Ahilon, enter and exit the back of the car multiple times. Then he started walking into the woods, according to the probable cause document.

“I directed Benito to the back of the car and attempted to pat down his outer layer of clothing to check for weapons. Benito resisted against this and pushed his left thigh against the car before reaching his hand toward his left front pocket. With his uncooperative nature, and failure to listen to commands to keep his hands on the car, I asked for another unit which did not reach dispatch or other deputies,” McCullough wrote.

The deputy was struggling with Ahilon when he saw a backpack in the back seat. Ahilon “began to dive” inside the car and McCullough feared the backpack contained a weapon, according to the document.

“With the current lighting conditions being dark, surrounded by woods, outnumbered by a minimum of two subjects and a possible third lurking nearby, I drove my left knee onto Benito’s leg to keep him from crawling into a position where my back would be exposed to E.H.J.,” McCullough wrote.

Then Ahilon tried to grab the deputy’s gun, the document states.

“I looked down to my right side where I saw Benito grabbing at my weapon,” according to McCullough.

As the deputy wrestled to cuff Ahilon, backup arrived.

The second deputy helped secure Ahilon in wrist restraints when another deputy and Shelton Police officers rolled up to the scene, according to the probable cause document.

Ahilon was arrested for attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, first-degree criminal impersonation, second-degree criminal trespass and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Judge Daniel Goodell released Ahilon on personal recognizance.