Colton W. Welch, 27, of Westport pleaded guilty to taking a motor vehicle without permission and was sentenced to 2 years and 5 months in prison. Welch had nine previous felony convictions.
On April 28, deputies responded to the Grayland area upon the call that Welch had taken his grandmother's vehicle without her permission. Welch had apparently taken the vehicle while visiting his grandmother. Deputies were unable to immediately locate the vehicle, but learned that the vehicle had been left parked a couple of weeks later and was locked.
Family members were called to take possession of the vehicle and the Pacific County Prosecutor's Office sought a warrant for Welch's arrest. He was arrested on the outstanding warrant and charged.
"Welch received the maximum sentence authorized by this statute and believed that this was an appropriate sentence given his nine prior felony convictions," Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain told the Herald. "It is unfortunate that the legislature doesn't permit probation for property offenses as it seems clear to me that Mr. Welch should be supervised when he is not in prison; however, since they do not, we feel it is important to seek significant sentences to ensure someone with this kind of record cannot continue to damage our community and his family."
Blake Sentenced
to 1 Year, Agrees to
Drug Treatment
Ryan J. Blake, 26, of Long Beach pleaded guilty to third degree assault and possession of heroin and was sentenced to 1 year in prison followed by 1 year of probation.
"I believed a prison sentence was warranted for Mr. Blake as he was released from Cowlitz County jail about 30 days earlier; so despite having only recently been convicted of his first felony matter, I believed he needed to serve a prison sentence, but I also wanted him to get drug treatment and for that reason his attorney and I reached agreement to add a charge, which he did not commit, (possession of heroin) in order to ensure the Department of Corrections supervises him for drug treatment," McClain said.
Parties in criminal matters are permitted to reach agreements such as this to resolve cases.
"For me, and with the agreement of the victim of this offense, it was evident that Mr. Blake and his girlfriend have been using (the) drug and we needed to not only address the assault, but also look to the root of the problem," McClain added.
Blake will be required to complete drug treatment while in prison and follow up with treatment when released from prison.
Crump Gets 1 Year
for Eluding Police
Rex R.W. Crump, 28, of Long Beach was sentenced to a year in prison following his guilty plea to attempting to elude a police vehicle.
On May 31, deputies observed Crump driving a vehicle at the intersection of 295th and M. Place. Deputies knew Crump had an outstanding arrest warrant and attempted to stop him. Crump fled, racing through roads and up a private drive before losing control and crashing down a 30 foot embankment. Crump then fled on foot towards the beach.
Officers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife and State Patrol, who were in route to the pursuit, turned their attention towards the beach and eventually located Crump and took him into custody at gun point.
"I believed a prison sentence was appropriate for Crump and was pleased to see him sentenced to prison, which was the top of the sentencing range for the offense given his history," McClain said.