LEWIS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
The following list is not comprehensive. Superior Court records can be accessed at the Lewis County Clerk’s Office in Chehalis.
Sentencings
• Brandon M. Foster, 35, Centralia, was sentenced Aug. 19 to 13 months in prison and 12 months of community custody after pleading guilty to one count of felony physical control of a vehicle while under the influence. Additional charges were dismissed.
Preliminary appearances
• Jeffrey Thomas Vala, 61, Packwood, made a preliminary appearance Aug. 19 for one count of failure to register as a sex offender after he reportedly submitted a change of address to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office indicating a move to Portland, Oregon, on April 16. Vala subsequently failed to register with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office as required, prosecutors alleged. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Aug. 20. Vala is currently in custody awaiting trial for a previous charge of failure to register as a sex offender. Prosecutors filed that charge on April 25, 2025.
• Isaiah J. Tavarez, 19, made a preliminary appearance Aug. 19 for four counts of custodial assault. According to court documents, Tavarez is accused of spitting on four Green Hill School staff members after refusing to return to his cell. The alleged incident occurred on June 11. A judge scheduled an arraignment hearing for Aug. 27. Tavarez remains in custody at Green Hill.
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arrests
• Brenna M. Layton, 33, Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for an alleged felony violation of a domestic violence protection order in the 1300 block of North Pearl Street at about 1:55 p.m. Aug. 19. Police said Layton attempted to evade apprehension by jumping into the Skookumchuck River. She was ultimately captured downstream and taken into custody, still wet, according to police.
Assault
• A male suspect was referred for criminal charges after allegedly assaulting a household member in the 1800 block of Ahlers Avenue at about 6:43 p.m. Aug. 19. According to police, the suspect was taken into custody for mental health evaluation and treatment. Police said his case will be reviewed by the Centralia city prosecutor.
• A juvenile was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) in the 1100 block of South Silver Street at about 8:24 p.m. Aug. 19. Officers reportedly found probable cause that the juvenile had assaulted a family member.
• A juvenile was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for fourth-degree assault in the 1400 block of Harrison Avenue at about 8:58 p.m. Aug. 19 after officers found probable cause that she had assaulted a female victim during a dispute.
Hit-and-run
• A hit-and-run of a parked vehicle was reported in the 900 block of North Tower Avenue at about 6:42 p.m. Aug. 19. The case is under investigation.
• Michael McCrowell, 68, Centralia, was issued a criminal citation for hit-and-run after he allegedly fled a motor vehicle collision without providing insurance information in the 1000 block of South Yew Street at about 11:31 a.m. Aug. 20.
• Gricelda Venegas Gonzalez, 19, Centralia, was issued a criminal citation for hit-and-run and not having a valid driver’s license or identification after she allegedly struck street signs and fled the scene in the 500 block of South Tower Avenue at about 6:25 a.m. Aug. 21.
Department assist
• K9 Hector and his handler responded to a request for assistance in the 1900 block of Johnson Road at about 7:17 p.m. Aug. 20. Hector assisted the Washington State Patrol (WSP) with an article search after a motorcyclist fled southbound on Interstate 5. Police reportedly apprehended the suspect near Exit 71 with the assistance of WSP aircraft. State troopers booked the suspect into jail.
Physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence
• Blaine Perius, 33, Yelm, was arrested for alleged physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor in the 2300 block of North Pearl Street at about 6:10 a.m. Aug. 20. Police said they found Perius passed out at a gas station pump, allegedly intoxicated from alcohol.
Protection order violation
Michael Hildesheim, 55, Centralia, was referred to the Centralia Municipal Court for violation of a protection order in the 3000 block of Borst Avenue at about 9:29 a.m. Aug. 20 after he allegedly sent communications to the protected person through email.
Theft
• Police took a report of a phone scam in the 2400 block of Fords Prairie Avenue at about 9:36 a.m. Aug. 20. The scam reportedly resulted in the theft of $1,200. No suspect information was available at the time.
• Anthony X. Membreno Sanchez, 18, Centralia, was referred to the Centralia Municipal Court for third-degree theft after he allegedly attempted to steal an item from a store in the 1000 block of South Yew Street at about 6:42 p.m. Aug. 20.
• A package was reported stolen from a porch in the 1200 block of Marion Street at about 6:43 p.m. Aug. 20. No suspect information was available at the time.
CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Chehalis Police Department has not yet released its most recent call reports. Look for updated information in an upcoming edition of The Chronicle and at chronline.com when the reports are made available.
JAIL STATISTICS
• As of Aug. 21, the Lewis County Jail had a total facility population of 140 inmates, including 128 in the general population and 12 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of the general population inmates, 98 were reported male and 30 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, 10 were reported male and two were reported female.
• As of Aug. 21, the Chehalis Tribal Jail had a total jail population of 16 inmates. Of those, six were from Centralia and five were from the Department of Corrections. Additionally, there were one each from the Lummi Nation, the Quileute Nation, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, the Skokomish Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Sirens are compiled by reporter Jacob Farmer, who can be reached at jfarmer@chronline.com. The Centralia Police Department can be reached at 360-330-7680, the Chehalis Police Department can be reached at 360-748-8605. If you were a victim of physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence or sexual assault, call Hope Alliance at 360-748-6601 or the Youth Advocacy Center of Lewis County at 360-623-1990.
