The Winlock man accused of pushing his partially-disabled wife and her dog out of a moving car in July faces an additional charge of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.
The new charge stems from allegations that Max J. Hancock, 49, willfully escaped a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Oct. 1.
The Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
According to court documents, the deputy “reached speeds of approximately 80 mph and could not keep Mr. Hancock in sight” as Hancock evaded the deputy while on his motorcycle.
The deputy had been trying to locate Hancock on outstanding arrest warrants for charges pertaining to Hancock’s alleged assault of his wife in July.
Hancock was eventually arrested Oct. 7 and made a preliminary appearance the next day in Lewis County Superior Court on charges of second-degree criminal mistreatment, second-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree assault, and reckless endangerment, domestic violence.
He faces up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines for the second-degree felony charges.
During that initial preliminary hearing, Judge Paul Strophy set Hancock’s bail at $25,000 cash or bond and entered a domestic violence protection order on behalf of the victim, along with an order for Hancock to surrender any firearms.
Hancock made a preliminary appearance for the new charge of eluding on Oct. 30. Judge Strophy ordered a bail of $50,000 consecutive to the previous bail amount, citing a risk to community safety as well as concerns about Hancock not appearing for future court dates.
An arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 6. Albert Didcock is assigned to represent Hancock.
