LEWIS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Sentencings
• Paul Swaw II, 47, Federal Way, was sentenced April 3 to six months in jail with 170 days of credit for time served and one year of community custody after making a submittal to one count each of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and harassment, saying in writing, “I am not contesting my guilt but have no independent memory of my conduct and so cannot provide a statement.” An additional count of harassment was dismissed. Swaw was initially accused of stealing a shopping cart in the Safeway parking lot in Centralia and swinging a metal baton at multiple joggers. For previous Chronicle reporting, visit https://tinyurl.com/4mmrf7kr.
• Olotele Pouesi, 27, Seattle, was sentenced April 3 to 33 months in prison and 18 months of community custody after making a submittal to one amended count of second-degree robbery following the withdrawal of a previous guilty plea for single counts of first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and third-degree theft. Charges of first-degree assault, possession of a stolen vehicle and third-degree theft were dropped as part of the plea deal. Pouesi was initially accused of participating in the robbery of a Winlock gas station in 2023. For previous Chronicle reporting, visit https://tinyurl.com/4wmpwv9s.
• Jesse Knight, 33, Chehalis, was sentenced April 3 to four years in prison after a jury found him guilty of three counts each of second-degree felony vehicle prowling and third-degree theft, along with single counts of first-degree criminal trespass, attempted residential burglary and second-degree attempted vehicle prowl. The charges spanned across two cases. Additional charges were dropped.
• Anthony J. Benoit, 21, Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced April 6 to 364 days in jail with 354 days suspended and five days of credit for time served after pleading guilty to one amended count of harassment and one count of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant. The court ordered Benoit to forfeit the firearm used in the crime. A no-contact order was entered on behalf of the victim. Benoit was initially accused of pointing his handgun at another man following an argument involving a woman in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last February. For previous Chronicle coverage, visit https://tinyurl.com/45a6khyb.
• James C. Jones, 44, Centralia, was sentenced April 7 to two years of community custody and up to six months of inpatient treatment as part of a drug offender sentencing alternative (DOSA) after making a Barr plea to one count of third-degree assault. Charges of reckless driving and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license were dropped. Jones was initially accused of pointing a BB gun at a passing vehicle on state Route 6 near Adna on Jan. 10. For previous Chronicle coverage, https://tinyurl.com/58bfhk9f.
Preliminary appearances
• Jazmin C. Kennedy, 25, Centralia, made an out-of-custody preliminary appearance April 14 for one count each of residential burglary and misdemeanor violation of a restraint order, both considered domestic violence. Kennedy is accused of violating a valid protection order by unlawfully entering the residence of her former partner, the protected party. The court granted Kennedy’s release on her own recognizance. An arraignment was scheduled for April 16.
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arrests
• Bruce C. Farr, 73, Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for disorderly conduct in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue at about 4:20 p.m. April 13 after allegedly trying to fight staff at a business and refusing to leave.
• Omar Avalos Gonzalez, 36, Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary in the 1600 block of Harrison Avenue at about 9 p.m. April 14. Avalos Gonzalez allegedly damaged the door, before he entered and remained unlawfully in a local business.
Animal problems
• A 37-year-old Centralia woman was issued a criminal citation for violating the city’s municipal code in the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue at about 9 p.m. April 14 after her dog was found roaming the streets. Police said she had received a prior warning and civil infraction.
Criminal trespass
• James Eberle, 45, Chehalis, was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for alleged second-degree criminal trespass and use or delivery of drug paraphernalia near the corner of Harrison Avenue and northbound Interstate 5 at about 11:48 p.m. April 14. Police said Eberle was found on property with clearly posted no-trespassing signage while in possession of a methamphetamine smoking pipe.
• Luke Baker, 56, Orval Chancy, 64, and Shila Brennan, 35, of Centralia, were issued criminal citations for first-degree criminal trespass in the 900 block of East Locust Street at about 11:57 p.m. April 14 after they were allegedly found in a structure listed as uninhabitable by the city’s code enforcement department.
Liquor violation
• A 38-year-old Winlock man was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for violating city municipal code after he was allegedly found sleeping on a city sidewalk with an alcoholic beverage near the corner of Harrison Avenue and northbound Interstate 5 at about 11:49 p.m. April 14.
Nuisance violation
• Three individuals were issued criminal citations in the 200 block of North Railroad Avenue at about 12:48 a.m. April 14 after police found them camping in a motor vehicle in a city parking lot while in possession of open alcohol containers.
Order violation
• A violation of a protection/restraining order was reported in the 2800 block of Russell Road at about 9:49 a.m. April 13. The case is under investigation.
Possession of a controlled substance
• William B. Bernstein, 55, Centralia, was arrested and released with a criminal citation for alleged knowing possession of a controlled substance and use or delivery of drug paraphernalia in the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue at about 4:51 a.m. April 14. Police first responded to a report of suspicious behavior in and around a local business.
Theft
• A juvenile attempted to steal alcohol in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue at about 7 p.m. April 13. All items were reportedly recovered by the business during the theft.
• A license plate was reportedly stolen from a vehicle parked at a local business in the 1200 block of Mellen Street at about 6:56 a.m. April 14.
• A scooter was stolen from a residence and later recovered in the 1100 block of G Street at about 8:15 a.m. April 14.
CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
DUI
• Julio Sagrero Plancarte was issued a criminal citation and booked into the Lewis County Jail for allegedly driving under the influence near the corner of North National Avenue and Northeast Median Street at about 9:04 p.m. April 12.
• Jose Delacruz-Rosas was issued a criminal citation and booked into the Lewis County Jail for allegedly driving under the influence near the corner of Jackson Highway and Ribelin Road at about 1:15 a.m. April 13.
JAIL STATISTICS
• As of April 15, the Lewis County Jail had a total facility population of 153 inmates, including 140 in the general population and 13 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of the general population inmates, 111 were reported male and 29 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, 11 were reported male and two were reported female.
• As of April 14, the Chehalis Tribal Jail had a total jail population of 19 inmates. Of those, 14 were from Centralia, three were from the Department of Corrections, one was from the Quileute Nation and one was from the Shoalwater Bay Tribe.
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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.
