Prosecutors filed charges against a man with reported dementia Friday after he allegedly strangled his wife during an assault the day before.
Michael G. Compton, 68, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday.
Judge Joely Yeager set bail at $100,000 cash or bond and granted a protection order on behalf of the victim, in agreement with the state’s request. Yeager said bail could be argued again at a later date, but said the high amount was important to protect the victim and community.
Compton’s attorney for the day, Rachael Tiller, requested a competency evaluation for Compton.
Compton is charged with one count each of second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault, both considered domestic violence offenses.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Centralia officers responded to a reported physical dispute on Thursday. A witness reported a woman had arrived at her apartment to “ask for help.”
“The reporting party said a male then came over and dragged the female back to their apartment with his hands around the woman's neck,” prosecutors wrote in the affidavit.
Officers arrived and found Compton standing near the parking lot with his arms “wrapped around” a woman, according to the affidavit. Compton allegedly pushed the woman toward a set of stairs while grabbing her shirt collar.
Officers separated Compton from the woman and detained him.
The woman, Compton’s wife, reportedly told an officer Compton has dementia and indicated his behavior has “become worse over a period of time,” describing recent instances of strangulation, according to the affidavit.
The woman described further instances of physical abuse that had occurred that day. According to the affidavit, the woman said Compton had thrown her into a heater and wall, before dragging her outside and throwing her “over the hood of a car.”
“She also said that during this time, he was using her sweatshirt collar causing her to be strangled and at times not being able to breathe,” prosecutors wrote.
Officers observed red marks on the woman’s neck and took pictures to document the injuries.
Compton is scheduled for an arraignment on Nov. 12.
