Superior Criminal Court August 28, 2026: Re-entry, Stipulated Orders and Motion to Furlough
Everyday life makes compliance difficult.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA — The scrutiny of people’s everyday lives is an essential part of the work in the criminal legal system. Keeping track of the minutia and making sure people are staying on track to becoming safe and contributing members of the community can take years for some cases.
For the 2026–2027 fiscal cycle, Jefferson County approved approximately $3.5 million for community justice. The money in part goes to misdemeanor probation, adult probation tracking and local community supervision. With the County facing a funds deficit, outside of basic court-ordered probation, there is almost no dedicated county-level funding for broader community re-entry programs and youth prevention.
On August 28 in Superior Criminal Court, there were continuances for opportunity to gather more materials and anticipated continuances to hire experts to evaluate those materials, refusals to appear, speedy trial waivers, treatment potential and conflict with transportation and continuing treatment programs.
Preliminary appearances and arraignments:
Christopher Wessels was charged on August 27 with theft in the second degree and vehicle prowl in the second degree, stealing from a vehicle. He was assigned Scott Charlton, from Jefferson Associated Counsel, who pleaded not guilty on Wessel’s behalf. His omnibus hearing will be September 25, pretrial on October 9 and a trial set for the week of October 19.
Wessel said that he has strong relationships with the Recovery, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Linkage (REAL) Team operated by Discovery Behavioral Health and Believe in Recovery, with new responsibilities to care for their new van for housing and potential jobs. Regarding his history of noncompliance he said, “That was from a different life.” The court denied Wessel's motion to lower bail and his release, keeping his bail at $500.
Joseph Searight was charged on August 5 with possessing stolen property in the second degree—a radio from the Brinnon Fire Department. Searight was appointed a representative from Jefferson Associated Counsel and pleaded not guilty. His omnibus hearing will be October 23, pretrial November 6, and his trial is set for the week of November 16.
Yvonne Hay was arrested on August 25 for attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. She posted her $50,000 bail and did not appear for her arraignment. The court issued a $100,000 warrant.
Sentencings:
After completion of her mental health evaluation and beginning new medication, Samantha Mardock was offered a mental health alternative sentencing. She pleaded guilty to assault in the second degree and residential burglary. She has a review hearing set for November 20.
In his victim statement, her father said, “I am happy my daughter got help when she needed it and would like to see the no contact order ended.” The REAL Team was present to help escort her through the process from jail and into her new housing.
Jerry Simants pleaded guilty to forgery of his community service hours. The state dismissed the second count of forgery. He was sentenced to ten days in jail and was booked directly from the courtroom.
Updates:
Tarah Deutsch made a motion at her omnibus hearing for a furlough to inpatient treatment, meaning she asked to be released from custody in order to stay at a treatment facility. She had secured a bed date for a 28 day stay, with return to the jail following treatment. With over 58 warrants from ten years ago, the state objected and said they intend to offer a deal that includes treatment.
“I’ve been in and out of trouble my whole life, but I’ve been out of trouble for ten years. In all that, I’ve only been to treatment once,” Deutsch said.
The court denied her furlough motion based on the state's possible resolution in a week. Her omnibus was set over for September 4.
Reviews:
After a report from Chloe Baldwin’s treatment provider, the state asked for a sanction of 30 days on electronic home monitoring (EHM) with dedicated surveillance on Baldwin’s devices. The state redacted their motion to remove Baldwin's stipulated order of continuance (SOC), an agreed pause to sentencing if she follows conditions, and said the EHM must be in place by Thursday at 4 p.m.
Baldwin said, “I messed up in my first year [of my SOC], but I no longer have the urge to slide.”
