Court News - January 21, 2016

Columbia County Superior Court

January 6, 2016

Arraignment:

Jeffrey Allan Brooks, 22, Walla Walla. Brooks entered a not guilty plea to charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class B felony and possession of methamphetamine, a Class C felony. On Dec. 23 Columbia County dispatch was notified that a white Ranger pickup with a Pepsi decal was stolen from the Wal-Mart parking lot. Dispatch had received calls of a Pepsi truck driving erratically through town and another call reporting a Pepsi truck stuck in the dike by the baseball fields. Deputies located the truck, which had no keys. Sheriff Rocky Miller located Brooks, whose clothing had been identified from Wal-Mart video, walking in the 100 block of S. 2nd. According to police reports, Brooks said he was homeless and tired and was “looking for something to live of off” when he saw the truck with the keys in it and drove it through back roads to Dayton. Brooks later admitted he had hidden the keys in Sheriff’s Miller patrol car where they were found. Following his arrest, deputies allegedly found, in Brook’s possession, a baggie containing powdery residue that tested positive for methamphetamine. Brooks was released on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond. Omnibus and trial setting is set for Jan. 20.

Dismissal:

Athena G. Tziouvaras, 26, no address listed; charged with possession of stolen property in the second degree and three counts of theft in the third degree. She was charged after purchasing items at several Dayton stores, using a stolen EBT card in Feb. of 2014. The case was dismissed with prejudice following the successful completion of 18 months of probation and mental health/substance abuse treatments.

Trials Set:

Delores L. Elder, 51, Dayton; charged in June with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture or deliver, possession of a controlled substance (meth), and use of drug paraphernalia. Trial set for March 21-April 1.

Ronald Ray White, 54, Kennewick; charged in October with two counts of violation of a no-contact order – third or subsequent violation. Trial set for March 10-11.

Brandon W. John, 32, Dayton; charged with two charges of first-degree escape for leaving treatment center and failing to report to DOC. Trial set for March 31 – April 1.

Joel O. Ballard, 23, Charged with assault in the third degree. Trial set for March 31 – April 1.

Other Legal Action:

Steven Ray Long, 28, Dayton; charged with 17 counts including theft, drug charges, malicious mischief and burglary stemming from incidents that took place in Feb. and May, 2013.The state has failed to make service, Long failed to appear, and a bench warrant was issued.

William Elliott Savage, 43, Dayton, continuation of prosecution on charges of possession of a stolen firearm motor vehicle from April 2014, after agreed order of restitution was not met. Savage did not appear and prosecution is continued to Feb. 3.

Jared J. Mings, 32, Starbuck; charged with trafficking in stolen property and second-degree theft. Mings did not appear and state has had no contact with him. Prosecution continued to Jan. 20 to re-set trial date.

Austin Kimmons, 19, Dayton; charged with two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of marijuana. Kimmons did not appear and prosecution is continued to Jan. 20 to re-set trial date.

Walla Walla County Superior Court

James D. Dunleavy, 33, no address listed; charged on Jan. 13 with two counts of two counts of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of burglary tools in the third degree, and one count of driving while license is suspended or revoked.

Dustin J. Wooderchak, 21, Waitsburg; pleaded guilty, on Jan. 11, to one charge of harassment for threatening to cause bodily injury to another person. His sentence included three days in jail, suspended, two days jail time converted to community service, 12 months probation, and fines and fees.