Superior Criminal Court August 21, 2026: Pro Tempore Steps Judge Steps In
A week of continuances and sentencing overseen by Seabeck attorney Sara McCulloch.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA — When a judge is out and needs someone to cover for them, the court will appoint a judge pro tempore, a temporary judge, often a local attorney, a retired judge or a commissioner, but could also be an elected judge from another region. Whoever is available and appointed, if not already sworn in, takes an oath for the day to hold the same legal authority of a regular judge.
On August 21, Commissioner Sara McCulloch, an attorney with a practice in Seabeck, Washington, swiftly moved through a dense docket filled mostly with continuances and omnibus hearings where the parties turned over paperwork to the court. There were also several sentencings.
Sentencing:
Jared Gordon was charged on June 12, 2026 with theft in the second degree. Gordon pleaded guilty and received an exceptional sentence below the standard range of two months, with two months credit for time served, on the conditions that he complete drug court.
Benjamin David was charged on May 5, 2026 with custodial assault of a staff member at the Olympic Corrections Center, a prison and work camp operated by the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). He changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. Judge McCulloch accepted the state's recommendation, and sentenced David to 17 months in prison.
Andrew Gaikowski’s resentencing was stricken from the record because the DOC did not give him the summons from the state, meaning his non-appearance will not count against him.
Preliminary Appearance:
Ruslan Kovalchuk, represented by attorney Noah Harrison, had a preliminary appearance and was summoned for his fingerprints. Elena McGivern, certified Ukrainian language court interpreter for the defendant, repeated after Kovalchuk, “Yes, I have done it,” referring to having given his fingerprints, and his statement was corroborated with the jail.
The defense entered a request for discovery to see the state's case against him for the charges of violating commercial fishing area or time in the first degree, and entered an objection to the police report, also known as probable cause. They did not set his conditions of release and so Kovalchuk’s preliminary hearing has been set to September 11.
Updates:
After a year of negotiations, Andrew Hovde was given a stipulated order of continuance resulting in an amended charge of reckless driving from vehicular assault. His stipulations are to commit no criminal law violations for 12 months, complete 24 hours of community service and pay $150 in legal financial obligations.
Prosecuting attorney James Kennedy said that there will not be punishment if Hovde is unable to meet restitution. He will have a review hearing July 16, 2027.
Justin Wood failed to appear for his pretrial hearing for a second time. The court issued a $5,000 warrant.
Anthony Lara, represented by attorney Julian St. Marie, signed a waiver of his speedy trial rights and expects to enter a resolution with the state on September 11.
