A Mossyrock man is behind bars after allegedly trespassing inside his mother’s residence Sunday and demanding to use her phone to make bitcoin transactions.
Christopher Shane Church, 32, was charged in Lewis County Superior Court Monday with second-degree burglary, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine, third-degree malicious mischief with physical damage and second-degree criminal trespass.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Joely Yeager set Church’s bail at $25,000.
A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a residence on Damron Road in Mossyrock for a report of trespassing and spoke with Church’s mother upon arrival. She reportedly told police that her son was inside her residence and was refusing to leave after being told the previous day not to return until he had stopped using controlled substances, according to prosecutors in an affidavit of probable cause.
Church’s mother reported to police that her son came over around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening and she immediately told him to leave and that he was not welcome at the residence. She stated that Church allegedly demanded her phone to make bitcoin transactions, according to court documents. When she refused, she said Church grabbed a gallon of milk and began pouring it on the television.
The deputy observed Church packing his backpack. While speaking with police, Church told the deputy that he was “down to go to jail,” according to court documents. Church stated that he knew he was not allowed back inside the residence and admitted to pouring milk on the television.
He reportedly acknowledged being told the previous day that he was trespassed from the property and added that he arrived at his mother’s residence “with the intent of being arrested,” according to court documents. Church was arrested and transported to Lewis County Jail.
According to court documents, Church has numerous prior convictions, including second-degree possession of stolen property in 2014, second-degree burglary in 2008, second-degree theft in 2008 and third-degree assault domestic violence in 2007. He has had 17 warrants issued.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer requested $25,000 bail for Church, along with a no-contact order with a 1,000-foot restriction. As Meyer listed Church’s history of convictions, Church uttered, “Done nothing in two years.”
Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller told the court that Church’s most recent and only conviction in adult superior court is from 11 years ago.
Yeager sided with the prosecution on both the request for bail and the no-contact order, citing Church’s “significant” domestic violence history. Church’s next court date is scheduled for July 31.
