A Centralia man with "extensive criminal history,” according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, was charged with second-degree assault after he allegedly pointed a BB gun at a passing vehicle on state Route 6 near Adna on Jan. 10.
James C. Jones, 44, faces additional charges of reckless driving and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.
He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, Jan. 12.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by prosecutors, a state trooper stopped and detained Jones on Route 6 after receiving a report of a “weapons brandishing.”
“The victim stated that the driver of the Honda was driving aggressively behind them after they passed the Honda,” the affidavit states. “The victim stated that when the Honda passed, the driver pointed a black gun at them.”
The trooper searched the Honda Pilot and recovered what was reportedly a BB gun.
While being transported to the Lewis County Jail, Jones allegedly told the trooper that the “other guy had a gun” and said he “never pointed a gun at anyone,” according to the affidavit.
The alleged victims were a father and son driving separate vehicles, according to the affidavit.
The son allegedly told the trooper that Jones had been driving “slower than the posted speed limit.” He said his father passed Jones’s vehicle first and then he passed Jones.
According to the affidavit, the son said that Jones then accelerated “to not allow him to pass.”
The son allegedly told the trooper that Jones “was driving aggressively behind him” and that he “could see what appeared to be a gun in Jones' hand outside the window,” the affidavit states.
After stopping on the side of the highway, the son and his father reportedly followed the Honda Pilot while the son called police.
During Jones’ preliminary appearance, the prosecution requested a bail amount of $75,000 cash or surety, saying that Jones had five outstanding arrest warrants, and a criminal history that dated back to 1995.
The judge granted the state’s request for $75,000 and entered a no-contact order on behalf of the alleged victim — in this case the son — along with an order for Jones to surrender any weapons in his possession.
Jones was scheduled to appear for an arraignment on Jan. 15.
