A Centralia man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly “woke up angry” in the back seat of a car, kicked his girlfriend in the front seat, and threatened to kill her, according to court documents describing the victim’s account.
David A. Stone, 57, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Wednesday to face one count of felony harassment (domestic violence), a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Stone faces an additional gross misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) punishable by up to 364 days in jail and $5,000 in fines.
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee set bail at $10,000 cash or bond, in agreement with Senior Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello’s request, and granted a no-contact order on behalf of the victim.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller had requested an unsecured bond, citing Stone’s local residency and lack of Washington state felony history.
Masiello said Stone’s Washington criminal history was limited, but described his out-of-state history as “voluminous,” despite acknowledging that it was difficult to determine which charges had ultimately led to convictions.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Stone has no felony convictions in Washington state, but does have an out-of-state felony conviction for forgery in 1989, as well as other misdemeanor convictions.
A Lewis County sheriff’s deputy began investigating the incident Tuesday after a caller reported a dispute between a male and female inside a car off U.S. Highway 12 in the Napavine area.
According to the affidavit, the deputy arrived to find a shirtless man outside the car. The deputy spoke with the woman inside the car, who said she’d been living in the car with Stone.
The two had been dating for four months.
“She advised that he was asleep in the back seat of the vehicle and she was on the front passenger seat,” the affidavit said.
At some point, according to the woman, Stone “woke up angry and struck her on the side of the face and kicked her on the back of the head.”
The woman told the deputy that Stone used multiple slurs and threatened to kill her if she didn’t shut her mouth.
“(The woman) said she believed he would carry out this threat if she was alone and she refused to leave the gas station parking lot where they were located,” the affidavit said.
A witness at the scene said he was in the car at the time of the incident. He reportedly corroborated the victim’s account and said the victim did not fight back.
Stone allegedly denied “using any force” or threatening the woman, according to the affidavit.
He was scheduled to appear for an arraignment on Thursday.
