A Longview man was arrested by Winlock police on Saturday, June 28, and charged with second-degree identity theft and a gross misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license after allegedly giving Winlock police a false name when pulled over.
Paul King, 43, was driving in the city limits of Winlock when police believed he was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. An officer confirmed via a Department of Licensing photograph that King in fact had a suspended license and pulled over his vehicle.
According to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court, the officer noticed movement inside the vehicle. When the officer approached, he observed the driver had climbed into the backseat of the vehicle and claimed the passengers were driving, according to court documents.
When confronted with the truth, King admitted to being the driver but identified himself as Eric King. The officer, according to court documents, believed the driver was not being truthful despite King’s repeated claims to be Eric King. Court documents state that it was discovered the driver was actually Paul King, and he admitted as such.
Bail was set at $10,000 unsecured in Lewis County Superior Court Monday, with Judge Andrew Toynbee citing no felony convictions or failure to appear in the last five years for King. However, King’s history includes multiple convictions for obstruction, most recently in 2025; as well as convictions for false statement, criminal impersonation, taking a motor vehicle without permission, theft, possession of stolen property, and at least 10 driving with suspended license convictions.
Second-degree identity theft is a class C felony with a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of 364 days in prison and a fine of $5,000.
King’s arraignment is scheduled for July 10.
