A Lewis County man was charged with three felonies after he allegedly attacked a Winlock resident with a metal pole on Nov. 29.
Craig D. Ballard, 39, reportedly believed the Winlock man had stolen his shoes.
Ballard made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday to determine conditions of release for charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and first-degree burglary. Both the first-degree assault and burglary charges carry maximum sentences of up to life in prison and $50,000 in fines.
Each charge is considered a strike offense, meaning three such convictions would result in a mandatory lifetime sentence without the possibility of parole.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, sheriff’s deputies arrived at a residence in Winlock on Saturday to respond to a caller who said a victim had been assaulted by Ballard.
The victim had his “head busted in,” the caller said.
Deputies reportedly found the man with a “large laceration” on his forehead, and blood on his face, chest and pants.
According to the witness, Ballard said the victim had stolen his shoes and “was standing outside the residence debating whether to hit (the man) with a metal pole or use bear spray to get his shoes back,” the affidavit stated.
Ballard reportedly returned to the residence minutes later and told the witness to “check on” the victim because “he was bleeding everywhere.”
The witness went to the RV and reportedly saw blood on the floor when she entered.
When she went to apply pressure to the victim’s bleeding head, the witness “was able to see his skull through the laceration,” the affidavit stated.
Deputies interviewed the victim, who allegedly said Ballard had entered the RV and accused him of stealing Ballard’s shoes.
The man said he denied stealing the shoes. So Ballard beat him with the metal pole, hitting him on the arm, hand and head, which caused him to pass out.
The victim reportedly said he woke up to the witness shaking him.
According to law enforcement, Ballard admitted to hitting the man with the pole.
“Ballard said that he did not live at the residence and did not know who (the man) was. Ballard
said he just knew (the man) took a pair of his shoes, so he went out and hit him with his baton,” the affidavit stated.
According to deputies, Ballard provided further details when asked, allegedly saying that the man had entered the residence Ballard was in and pushed Ballard. Ballard said he then went into the RV and struck the man with the pole.
“Ballard then said that (the man) had taken a pair of his shoes, so he went to the RV to confront him, when (the man) pushed him and he struck (the man) with a metal pole,” the affidavit stated.
Ballard was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 6:12 a.m. Nov. 29.
During the preliminary hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello recommended a bail of $100,000 cash or surety, citing pending charges for first-degree theft and second-degree theft in Lewis County Superior Court, as well as prior felony convictions and failures to appear in court.
He added that Ballard has had 18 arrest warrants issued in the past.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller asked for consideration of unsecured bail, saying that Ballard’s bail was previously set at $10,000 upon his booking. His inability to post that amount spoke to the status of his financial situation, Tiller said.
The attorney noted that Ballard had no assault history on his record.
Earlier in the hearing, Tiller indicated Ballard had informed her he was awaiting a competency evaluation at Western State Hospital scheduled for the following day. The evaluation was part of a different case.
Commissioner Cailen L. Cecil set bail at $100,000 cash or bond, as requested by the state, due to the defendant’s warrant history and concern for public safety based on the allegations.
The judge issued a pretrial no-contact order on behalf of the victim.
Ballard was scheduled to appear for arraignment on Thursday, Dec. 4, with Chris Baum assigned to represent him.
