A Centralia man was arrested Sunday and charged in Lewis County Superior Court Monday with second-degree and fourth-degree domestic violence assault following an alleged altercation with his girlfriend.
Bail was set at $100,000 by Lewis County Superior Court Judge Joely Yeager for Joseph Carl Mede-Schockey, 36, during his preliminary appearance.
Centralia police responded Sunday to an apartment on Belmont Avenue for a report of an assault. The victim told police that she was in an argument with her boyfriend, Mede-Schockey, and got hit, according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
The victim said that two days prior, on Friday, Mede-Schockey allegedly held her down and choked her. On Sunday, she said that the argument resulted in him hitting her on the left cheek with a closed fist, according to court documents. Police observed redness on both sides of her face.
When asked to explain the choking incident, the victim explained that it was her birthday and that she had reportedly made a comment to Mede-Schockey that made him mad. According to court documents, she said he slammed her on the ground and got on top of her. The victim told police that Mede-Schockey then placed both hands around her neck and “squeezed to the point of not being able to breathe,” according to court documents. She reportedly told police that she remembered thinking during this incident that Mede-Schockey was trying to kill her.
The victim told police that he then began to kiss her and she kissed him back, wanting to defuse the situation, court documents state. Police observed red marks on both her neck and her chin consistent with her explanation. She admitted that the relationship was “toxic” and that she did not want it to continue.
A friend of the victim was also interviewed by police. She said she could hear screaming coming from the apartment and that the victim was yelling “help,” according to court documents. The victim’s friend said she ran to the door and began pounding on the door. The victim reportedly said she believed this incident would have escalated if people had not started banging on the door.
The witness said that as soon as she and a bystander were able to get the door open, Mede-Schockey allegedly swung at the bystander who was helping to try to get the door open, according to court documents.
During his interview with police, Mede-Schockey told officers that he was asleep on Sunday when the victim woke him up and yelled at him, telling him that he needed to move out. He said he didn’t know what was going on since it was their apartment. While doing this, court documents state, Mede-Schockey said his girlfriend began hitting him on the head with a hair straightener. When asked about the event on Friday, he told police that there was no physical fight but did recall some of the comments the victim had made.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer requested $100,000 bail and a domestic violence protection order with a 1,000-foot restriction. Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller responded with a request for no more than $25,000 bail, adding that Mede-Schockey has been working for a temp agency, just completed the first 90 days of probation and is about to be hired on for a company.
Mede-Schockey has prior felony convictions for a domestic violence no-contact order in 2021 and second-degree domestic violence assault in 2020. He also has prior misdemeanor convictions for violation of domestic violence no-contact orders in 2021 and 2020, malicious mischief in 2007 and third-degree driving with a suspended license in 2024 and 2018. Mede-Schockey has had 10 warrants issued.
Yeager sided with the state due to not only the recent allegations but also a “significant” assault and violation of protection order history. She imposed a no-contact order for Mede-Schockey.
“The risk to lethality is significant here if released,” Yeager said. “I don’t think that a no-contact order, although I am going to impose one, would reduce the risk here in any way given the history of violations of those orders.”
Mede-Schockey’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 31 for arraignment.
