County Seizes Drug Dealer's Home

DAYTON – Columbia County is the new owner of the home at 721 S. Third St. in Dayton after a criminal forfeiture process was completed last week. The home, which is located across the street from Dayton High School, was formerly owned by Monty N. Dunn, who pleaded guilty last May to delivery of methamphetamine.

Dunn is currently serving a four year, nine-month sentence in a DOC facility.

According to Columbia County Prosecutor Rea Culwell, the forfeiture process took about six months. She said the process was conducted through a series of proceedings in Columbia County Superior Court, during which her office worked closely with Columbia County Sheriff Rocky Miller.

"Under Washington law, if the owner of a residence uses his or her home to deal drugs, law enforcement may seize the residence for public use," Culwell said in a press release.

In a phone interview, Culwell told The Times that the home will likely be sold, with the transaction being handled by the Sheriff's Office. She said the proceeds from the sale must be used by the Sheriff's Office for drug-related enforcement.

"They can use it for things like buying equipment or for paying overtime," she said, as examples of possible use. "The funds must be used for things above and beyond the Sheriff's current budget," she added.

According to the Columbia County Assessor's web site, the home is currently assessed by the county at $96,530. "I don't know if we'll get that," Culwell said, adding that it will still be a significant amount.

Culwell said that there is a mortgage against the home, but the amount owing is far below the expected sale price. She said that the house had been in foreclosure proceedings before Dunn's sentencing, and that loan will be paid off out of the proceeds when the home is sold.

Culwell said she believes this is the first time that Columbia County has taken ownership of a piece of real estate or other property of significant value through a criminal forfeiture.

"There have been instances in the past where the county seized cash in the possession of a convicted drug dealer," she added.