Superior Criminal Court July 24, 2026: Indigent Services

JEFFERSON COUNTY, WA — In Washington State, a person is eligible for a public defender if their annual income is 125% or less of the federal poverty level, after taxes. There is a state fund for defense services that can help pay for services such as hiring an investigator, as we saw on Friday 24 with defendant Gaige Reading. 

In 2023, of the 146 criminal cases filed in Jefferson County, 112 were assigned to counsel. 

Washington State Office of Public Defense has limited supplemental funding to distribute to help counties with indigent (defendants with annual incomes 125% or less) defense costs. Court cost waivers come primarily from local county general funds. 

A Beacon article from May discussed the impacts of the new caseload standards for defense attorneys, which were implemented in January. In the article, Jefferson County Administrator Josh Peters said that Jefferson County is in the bottom 7% of states supported by state public defense expenditure, receiving between $30,000-$60,000 from Washington State when the defense costs are well over a million dollars.

Arraignments:

Leon Tucker was arrested on July 17 for second degree assault with a deadly weapon and harassment, including threatening to kill and domestic violence. He pleaded not guilty and was assigned to the Jefferson Associated Counsel (JAC). His omnibus hearing will be September 18, pretrial on October 9 and trial on the week of October 19. 

Daniel Gilmore was arrested on July 15 for second degree malicious mischief in an amount of $750 of property damages. He pleaded not guilty. JAC withdrew as his representation because of a conflict, but served as his attorney during arraignment. His omnibus hearing will be September 18, pretrial on October 9 and trial on the week of October 19.

Sentencing:

Daniel Soliz reached a resolution with the state to move his second degree assault to a third degree. As part of the State’s sentencing recommendation, they submitted a first time offender waiver, allowing the judge to apply a lighter sentencing to someone with a clean record. As a class C felony, the lowest of felony offenses, it carries a maximum penalty of five years and a $10,000 fine, and requires a mandatory biological sample collection for DNA databanks.

Soliz was sentenced to two days confinement with credit for two days served, and six months community custody. Soliz intends to get help through his two other cases in district court, where he hopes to join Behavioral Health Court and continue outpatient treatment. 

“I am actively working on my addiction to alcohol,” Soliz said. Judge Olsen responded, “Hopefully this is a wake up call to you and you will get the help you need.”

Updates:

Zachary Steed’s case of alleged second degree assault was dismissed by the state. 

Gaige Reading reset his omnibus hearing for August 14, and asked for a waiver of service to hire an investigator. Judge Olsen granted the waiver. 

Lawrell Hubbard had a status conference to discuss the resolution offered by the state. Scott Charlton, his attorney with JAC, stated he was unable to contact him. As the second no-show in a row, the court issued a $5,000 warrant.