SOUTH BEND - Amanda Ann Hanson, 26, of Westport entered guilty pleas for attempting to elude a police vehicle, driving under the influence, escape in the second degree, residential burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
"I believed Ms. Hanson earned a two-year prison sentence not only because of her conduct, but also because of her criminal history, which includes two felony drug convictions she received when she failed out of our Drug Court Program in 2013 and her 2009 conviction for identity theft," Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain told the Herald.
On April 6, Raymond Police Officer Sean Jarvis observed Hanson traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. While attempting to stop Hanson, she drove her vehicle into the curb and along the sidewalk until she finally stopped. When contacted, it was apparent she was heavily intoxicated. While attempting to run Hanson for warrants, she started her vehicle and drove off. Officer Jarvis gave pursuit, following Hanson through residential neighborhoods at high speeds in a light rain before Hanson eventually spun out and slammed into a ditch. Hanson was rescued from her vehicle by Officer Jarvis and transported to nearby Willapa Harbor Hospital. There, she became combative and eventually fled, in handcuffs, into the forested area that surrounds the Hospital. Officers were unable to locate Hanson, but the following day learned a vehicle had been stolen nearby. It was obvious that Hanson had wandered through the woods until she located a nearby home, went in, and took the purse that was on the counter, which had credit cards, checks, and the keys to the car she later took.
It was Hanson who eventually called the police and reported that she had taken the vehicle and driven home. The following morning she drove the car to a Raymond gas station. Hanson went to a friend's house before finally calling police and turning herself in.
Sitting next to her attorney and admitting guilt to the offenses, Hanson offered a statement to the victims of the burglary, saying she apologized for what she had put them through. She, "couldn't fathom [she] was capable of these offenses and hoped the victim's family would find peace," as she accepted responsibility for the offenses.
"While I can appreciate that she is remorseful and that she immediately accepted responsibility for the crimes I charged, I nevertheless could not excuse any of her conduct and believed the only way to really protect our community was to ensure she received a prison sentence," McClain said.
Hanson will serve 2 years in prison and once released will be on supervision for the DUI offense for 5 years. Ironically, the legislature imposes no supervision for the balance of the offenses.
Homeless Woman
Jailed for Burglary
Angela Marie Husted, 51, a homeless woman in Ocean Park, was sentenced to a year in prison for burglary.
"Ms. Husted took advantage of a very kind family who had previously allowed her into their home to use the restroom," McClain reported. "Ms. Husted returned weeks later, entered the residence while they were home, and attempt to make away with some of their property.
"I think that it was the fact that she appeared to have a mental illness that caused them to be so kind, but in reality Ms. Husted has a drug habit, which fueled her desire to steal," McClain explained. "That, and her criminal history, including a 2015 residential burglary, made this prison sentence appropriate."
Sex Offender Sentenced
John Edward Smith, 28, from Ocean Park was sentenced to a year in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. Smith, who had registered as homeless, which requires a weekly meeting with the sheriff's office to list where he had stayed for the preceding week, failed to report over a two-week period.
"Mr. Smith's prior criminal history, including another failure to register, and a sex offense from Idaho, gives me great concern about ensuring we know where he is," McClain stated. "We simply cannot properly protect our community from sex offenders if we do not know where they are [and] we do not hold them accountable when the fail to register."
Smith will be under supervision for 1 year following his release from prison and will be required to once again register as a sex offender.