Wahkiakum Superior Court

Michael Sullivan, judge

August 16, 2010

A 12-person jury found defendant David Loren Waldeck, 45, Cathlamet, guilty of a charge of possession of a controlled substance in a one day trial Monday.

The jury found Waldeck guilty of possessing heroin when a law enforcement officer pulled his vehicle over last February.

The sheriff's deputy, Helen Coubra, witnessed Waldeck's vehicle speeding and behaving erratically on SR 4, and she pulled him over. While identifying Waldeck and his passenger, a former law enforcement officer pulled up and told Coubra he had seen someone in the vehicle throw something out of the car. Another deputy arrived and was taken to the place the items had been thrown; he found a set of small scales and a container with a disguised compartment containing small plastic bags with drug residue that was later identified as heroin and methamphetamine.

Officers placed Waldeck and the passenger under arrest and searched them. On the passenger they found a drug pipe, and on Waldeck, they found a used syringe and $1,800 in cash. In the trunk of the car, they found drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Waldeck's attorney asked that the evidence of the search be thrown out because, he said, officers had no good reason to search Waldeck. After the suppression hearing, Judge Sullivan ruled the search was valid, and the case went to the jury for trial.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 23.

State versus Samuel L. Longtain, 36, Cathlamet: The defendant was charged with residential burglary--domestic violence. Arraignment was set for August 23 and a trial was scheduled for September 27. The state alleges he broke into a house belonging to his estranged wife.

August 9, 2010

State versus Brian Lee Arness, 24, Cathlamet: The defendant was charged with harassment--threats to kill, and a trial was scheduled for September 13.

State versus Dwight Mark Thornell, 32, Skamokawa: The defendant was charged with a count of second degree burglary and third degree theft. The state alleges he and a friend took a popcorn popper and other items from the Skamokawa Grange, Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds and Helping Hands Food Bank last May. Bail was set at $1,500, and arraignment was scheduled for August 23.

State versus James David Daniel, 32, Skamokawa: The defendant was charged with second degree burglary, third degree theft, and possession of stolen property. The state alleges he and a friend took a popcorn popper and other items from the Skamokawa Grange, Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds and Helping Hands Food Bank last May. Arraignment was scheduled for August 23.