In an era where corporate media conglomerates control the narrative and routinely ignore local corruption to protect their bottom lines, we set out to follow the paper trails, attend court hearings, and ask the uncomfortable questions that others are simply too compromised to ask.

Because we operate entirely without corporate backing, we don’t answer to wealthy corporate donors or investors.

We answer to you, the citizens. And over the past five months, the truth has finally seen the light of day.

What we uncovered over the past 150 days has shaken the foundations of the local political and judicial establishment.

From federal drug indictments reaching the heart of our drug courts to school cover-ups, The Olympic Herald has proven that an independent press, backed by an engaged community, can dismantle the most deeply entrenched power networks.

As we look toward the future—including the exciting launch of our printed newspaper in August and our new website launch next week—we need your support to keep fighting.

This five-month anniversary marks a critical milestone, and we need your support to ensure that the light of truth continues to shine.

Over the past 150 days, we have published a total of 233 articles across Washington State. You can read every single one of our articles by visiting The Olympic Herald’s online archive.

Protecting Our Students

Beyond the courthouse, our most widely read and impactful reporting has centered on holding public and religious institutions accountable for protecting our children.

We exposed a devastating, decades-long cover-up within the Sequim School District, where an entrenched administrative clique known as the “six pack” systematically punished whistleblowers and shielded abusive executives.

This failure to monitor predators cost taxpayers and insurers more than $2.35 million in civil rights settlements.

We have also kept Sequim parents informed on current school board capital projects and budget cuts, documenting their emotional advocacy to save the school choir amid looming budget cuts on June 4.

Similarly, we detailed severe institutional negligence at the Quillayute Valley School District.

For over 20 years, district administration consistently relied on a playbook that prioritized quiet resignations and liability management over student safety and transparent accountability.

This culminated in a federal trial where a jury found QVSD liable for creating a hostile work environment, awarding a former coach $250,000 in damages.

We deepened this investigation with explosive federal Office for Civil Rights complaints alleging that QVSD ignored physical assaults, enabled racism, and blackmailed families to conceal their failures.

We also tracked school accountability on Bainbridge Island, where the district faced a second federal lawsuit as a former employee demanded $5 million, and a federal complaint alleging that Bainbridge Island School District ignored a teacher’s abuse.

This battle for student safety extends into the religious institutions operating in our communities.

Over the past five months, we have reported on allegations of systematic child abuse, alleged exploitation, and alleged cover-ups within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our reporting uncovered shocking allegations of child sex abuse and interstate trafficking, including lawsuits alleging that LDS leaders in Issaquah trafficked a child to Spain for abuse by a known predator, and Seattle LDS leaders threatening parents to cover up child abuse.

We have closely monitored federal lawsuits across Washington—including Ridgefield and Redmond—exposing how the LDS church has relied on a controversial “no legal duty” defense in court to avoid liability for allegedly failing to report abuse, and tracked the criminal prosecution of former Wenatchee LDS Stake President charged with wire fraud.

Unmasking the Courthouse Crisis

The most staggering revelations of our first five months centered on the deeply entrenched cronyism and systemic failures within the Clallam County Superior Court.

We broke the story on the appointment of Family Court Commissioner Brian Parker, revealing that he had been fast-tracked into his position by then-Presiding Judge Brent Basden.

After our persistent reporting exposed Parker’s troubling background and stalking allegations from local residents, he was ultimately terminated.

But Parker’s removal only scratched the surface. On May 20, the legal fallout escalated dramatically when a civil lawsuit was amended alleging that Brian Parker sexually harassed a domestic violence survivor and conspired to strip her of custody.

Our investigations into Judge Basden exposed a terrifying reality for vulnerable families in our region.

We uncovered a documented pattern of Basden utilizing his courtroom to enrich his inner circle, including awarding a lucrative taxpayer-funded contract to represent murder suspect Aaron Fisher to his former business partner, Lane Wolfley—a man previously suspended from the practice of law for exploiting a client.

We also published a courtroom video of Judge Basden actively discouraging a parent from cooperating with a Child Protective Services investigation, telling her that “law enforcement deepens the problem.”

Today, Judge Basden is the subject of a formal investigation by the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct for allegedly allowing his former LDS leadership positions to dictate his rulings and endanger children.

We further documented how Basden weaponized “parental alienation” to justify financial retaliation against mothers, and secretly meddled in LDS litigant-related legal cases despite the appearance of conflicts of interest.

The courthouse crisis reached unprecedented depths with our coverage of former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator Johnny Watts. We broke the news when Watts was arrested on drug trafficking and firearm charges.

When court administrators attempted to withhold Watts’s emails under a blanket denial, we took legal action and won a victory under Judge Barnhart.

Watts subsequently faced federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, pleaded not guilty, and was released on bond pending trial on June 10.

Defeating Censorship and the Fight for Free Speech

When an independent press begins dismantling entrenched power, retaliation is inevitable.

As The Olympic Herald continued to publish these uncomfortable stories, the Clallam County Superior Court attempted to disable public commentary and abruptly deleted its entire official Facebook page rather than face public scrutiny.

But the attacks went much further than social media blackouts.

In a chilling attempt to execute a modern-day burning of the press, an associate of Judge Basden filed a motion to impose a coercive fine of up to $2,000 per day against me until I removed over thirty investigative articles.

We refused to be intimidated. Represented by attorney Rasham Nassar, we fought back in court and won a resounding victory for the First Amendment.

A visiting judge formally denied the motion, affirming what we have maintained from the start: exploiting civil harassment statutes to legally gag a newspaper is an unconstitutional prior restraint.

This was followed by a series of victories in May, culminating when a Judge Struck Down Mavy’s Second Attempt to Gag The Olympic Herald on May 29.

To ensure free speech victories protect all independent journalists, I filed a non-party motion in the Court of Appeals, which was granted.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on these past five months, we are also looking toward the future of The Olympic Herald. We have a few exciting announcements to share:

• Our New Website Launch: Our new website launch has been delayed, but it is now anticipated to go live by the end of this upcoming week, bringing a completely upgraded and modernized platform to better serve our readers and deliver our investigations more effectively.

• Weekly Printed Newspaper: We are officially bringing a printed edition of The Olympic Herald to Clallam County in August. Your donations will directly fund the printing expenses and mailing services required to deliver physical copies to homes, local businesses, and newsstands across the Olympic Peninsula, bridging the digital divide and ensuring every resident has access to the truth.

We Need Your Support to Keep Fighting

These last five months have proven that independent journalism has the power to change our community.

But this work—digging through and purchasing thousands of court records and public records, attending endless hearings, and fighting aggressive, well-funded legal battles designed to silence us—requires significant resources.

The Olympic Herald is 100% reader-supported.

We do not answer to corporate media conglomerates or local political establishments. But to continue holding the powerful accountable, we need your help.

I want to extend my deepest, most sincere gratitude to the 115 people who have contributed to our work to date. Your early trust and financial support have literally kept our reporting alive.

If you are not in a position to contribute financially at this time, you can support our mission just as powerfully by sharing this article with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and encouraging others who are able to make a donation.

Every share, subscription, and conversation helps us bypass corporate gatekeepers and keeps the light of truth shining in our community.

Every contribution ensures that we have the resources to defend the citizens of Washington, follow the paper trails, and keep bringing these vital truths to light.

Thank you for reading, thank you for sharing our stories, and thank you for standing with The Olympic Herald.

How can you contribute

If you value fearless reporting and want to help fund my ongoing work please consider contributing through one of the following methods:

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Here on the Olympic Peninsula, our readers are acutely aware of the systemic rot inside the Clallam County court system—a jurisdiction plagued by 18-month case backlogs, a hostile environment for crime victims, and a two-tiered justice system that caters to the well-connected.

Neighboring Kitsap County, by contrast, generally boasts a highly competent and constitutionally sound bench.

Kitsap Superior Court is anchored by respected judges who have earned stellar reputations for upholding the law and strictly defending fundamental rights.

But there is one glaring, politically insulated exception sitting on the Kitsap County bench who continues to leave the public asking who the justice system is truly protecting: Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown.

On June 5, 2026, 58-year-old Silverdale resident John Michael Daly was sentenced in Kitsap County Superior Court for sexually abusing his two biological daughters over a four-year period.

Despite sentencing guidelines that called for years in a state penitentiary, Daly walked away with a suspended sentence, which required him to serve just 12 months in the county jail.

For the citizens of Clallam County, this Kitsap case serves as a blaring, terrifying alarm.

To manage their deeply broken dockets, Clallam County administrators frequently use Judge Ferguson-Brown in our community as a visiting judge.

If you want to know what kind of “justice” our local court administrators are voluntarily bringing into Clallam County, look no further than the sickening details of the John Daly case.

The Crimes

Daly pleaded guilty to Child Molestation in the First Degree and Child Molestation in the Second Degree, with both charges carrying Domestic Violence enhancements.

According to charging documents, the abuse against his two daughters occurred between June 2016 and December 2020.

According to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the victims were just five and nine years old when the abuse began.

The investigation into Daly began in July 2024 when his wife contacted Child Protective Services.

During interviews with law enforcement and forensic investigators, the victims detailed a repeated pattern of molestation.

The Sentence

Given the severity of the crimes, the standard sentencing range for Daly’s first-degree child molestation charge was 67 to 89 months in prison.

Yet, rather than imposing a lengthy term in the custody of the Department of Corrections, Judge Ferguson-Brown granted Daly a Special Sexual Offender Sentencing Alternative.

Under this alternative, she imposed a 78-month prison sentence but immediately suspended it for the remainder of Daly’s life.

Instead of state prison, a man who caused his own child to bleed from sexual assault was ordered to serve just 12 months in the Kitsap County Jail, with credit for time already served.

He was placed on community custody and ordered to complete outpatient treatment.

“People Need to Feel Respected”

While SSOSA is a legal sentencing alternative, Judge Ferguson-Brown’s willingness to deploy it in a case involving years of severe child sexual abuse makes absolute sense when you listen to her own words.

In an October 2023 interview on KMAS Radio, Judge Ferguson-Brown explicitly laid out her judicial philosophy regarding convicted criminals.

Bragging about how she runs her courtroom, she openly admitted that prioritizing the feelings of criminals is paramount to her approach.

“They don’t feel as if just because they might be the one accused of a crime or even convicted of a crime, they don’t feel any less than anyone else,” Judge Ferguson-Brown told the radio host.

“I believe that’s very important because people need to feel respected. That’s how we get people to become rehabilitated, you know, you’re not treating them as discarded.”

She continued: “Okay you committed this crime, now you’re going to have to be responsible for that... but while we’re holding you accountable, you get another opportunity to prove yourself.”

This is the ideology driving the gavel.

A convicted child molester abused his 5-year-old and 9-year-old daughters, but in Judge Ferguson-Brown’s courtroom, ensuring the offender “feels respected” is apparently the priority.

An Anomaly on the Bench

Ferguson-Brown’s style of jurisprudence is completely out of step with Kitsap County’s standard of excellence.

Her tenure on the bench has instead been defined by political insulation and extreme leniency toward violent individuals.

In November 2023—just weeks after that KMAS radio interview—voters in Mason County formally ousted her from office at the ballot box, rejecting her by a massive 15-point margin.

But the clear will of the voters meant nothing to the political establishment.

Less than two months after she was democratically removed from office, Governor Jay Inslee intervened, immediately appointing her to a vacant Superior Court seat in Kitsap County to bypass the voters.

The rulings that cost her the Mason County election reveal exactly why she was ousted.

In February 2023, she presided over the case of a man who poured gasoline on a rehab facility and set it ablaze in the middle of the night while nearly two dozen people slept inside.

When police tracked him down, he fought them with a loaded flare gun. Despite the suspect admitting to a retaliatory domestic motive and attempting to burn dozens of people alive, Ferguson-Brown set his bail at a shockingly low $25,000.

That very same month, she oversaw a case where a woman was accused of shooting her boyfriend multiple times in the face, chest, and arm.

Despite prosecutors requesting $500,000 bail to protect public safety, Judge Ferguson-Brown released the accused shooter a day later on a mere $5,000 bail.

A Warning for the Peninsula

The broader, systemic failures we have extensively documented in Clallam County—the crushing 18-month backlogs, the hostility toward domestic violence victims, the secret removal of victims rights posters—are institutional problems rooted in our own local courthouse.

But Judge Ferguson-Brown, permanently seated in Kitsap County via a political loophole, brings her own unique brand of danger wherever she wields the gavel.

For a justice system that is supposed to protect the vulnerable, John Daly’s 12-month sentence is a devastating betrayal.

It proves that voters can actively reject a judge for endangering the public, only for political elites to reinstall her to pass judgment on the community’s most horrific crimes so she can ensure convicted child molesters “feel respected.”

While John Daly avoids years in a state penitentiary, his victims are left to suffer the consequences of a judiciary that continually refuses to hold abusers accountable.

And if this is the standard of justice Judge Ferguson-Brown applies to a convicted child molester in her own home courthouse, Clallam County residents should be horrified that our local court administrators are voluntarily bringing her into ours.

Johnny Steven Talbert appeared in Clallam County Superior Court for a scheduled extradition review.

During the proceeding, the court was informed that North Carolina officials are nearing the completion of a Governor’s Warrant—the formal document necessary to compel Talbert’s return to Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to face trial.

Michele Devlin, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Clallam County, confirmed the development Friday afternoon.

Devlin told me that Deputy Prosecutor Tracey Lassus informed the court that “North Carolina is close to having their Governor’s Warrant.”

“When that warrant is completed, it will be sent to Washington’s Governor’s Office,” Devlin said.

A follow-up review hearing was scheduled to check on the status of the warrant, which will take place on Wednesday, June 24.

The Governor’s Warrant process is utilized when a suspect does not voluntarily waive extradition.

The procedure involves the North Carolina Governor’s Office approving a warrant request from the local District Attorney. That warrant is then transmitted to the Washington State Governor’s Office with a request to honor it.

Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols previously explained that the process generally takes between 30 and 90 days.

Once Washington honors the warrant, North Carolina authorities will arrange to transport Talbert from the Clallam County Correction Facility, where he is currently being held without bail.

Talbert was arrested without incident on May 21 in the 2300 block of West 18th Street by Port Angeles Police and detectives from the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Authorities in Concord, North Carolina, allege that Talbert is responsible for the July 2008 “Sun Drop Murders.”

During an armed robbery at a local Sun Drop bottling plant, an office manager, Donna Barnhardt, and a church choir leader, Darrell Noles, were fatally shot. Nearly $10,000 was stolen.

Talbert is facing allegations of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a firearm or other dangerous weapon.

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Law enforcement officers and first responders from across the region will lace up their running shoes on Friday, June 26, to carry the “Flame of Hope” across Clallam County in support of Special Olympics Washington.

The 2026 Clallam County Law Enforcement Torch Run, a 34-mile relay, will kick off at 7 a.m. at Laird’s Corner in Port Angeles.

Runners will follow the Olympic Discovery Trail through Port Angeles, Sequim, and Blyn before crossing the finish line at 7 Cedars Casino.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grassroots fundraising and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics worldwide.

Funds raised locally through community donations and commemorative shirt sales help provide athletes with intellectual disabilities access to year-round sports training, competitions, health programs, and leadership opportunities.

“This event is about much more than running,” Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore, the local Torch Run Coordinator, said.

“It’s about supporting incredible athletes, building community partnerships, and raising funds that directly impact Special Olympics participants throughout the year.”

The relay run will feature a broad coalition of local agencies.

Participating personnel include representatives from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department, Lower Elwha Police Department, Sequim Police Department, and the Jamestown S’Klallam Police Department.

Runners from the Washington State Department of Corrections, Olympic National Park, Clallam County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and the Sheriff’s Office Olympic Discovery Trail Bike Patrol Team will also participate.

Community Walks

While the 34-mile trek is tackled by the relay teams, organizers are encouraging the public to line the route to cheer on the runners or join in on two designated community walks:

• Port Angeles Waterfront Community Walk (8:30 a.m.): Held on the Port Angeles Waterfront Trail. The public is invited to walk alongside Clallam County Sheriff Brian King, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, Lower Elwha Police Lt. Jimmy Thompson, Special Olympics athletes, and their families.

• Sequim Community Walk (Approx. 12:45 p.m.): Walkers will gather at the intersection of East Fir Street and North Blake Avenue. Sequim Police Chief Mike Hill will join athletes and their families to help carry the flame through Carrie Blake Park and into Sequim.

Finale Celebration

The day’s events will culminate with a finale celebration at 2 p.m. in the 7 Cedars Casino RV Parking Lot in Blyn.

During the finale, Clallam County runners will ceremonially pass the flame to representatives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The event, which is open to the public, will double as a community meet-and-greet featuring an interactive display of public safety equipment.

Attendees can explore armored rescue vehicles from the Clallam and Jefferson County Crisis Response Teams, as well as fire apparatus and equipment from Clallam County Fire District 3.

A shaved ice cart will also be on-site to help attendees and athletes cool down.

Community members wishing to support the Clallam County Law Enforcement Torch Run team can make a secure donation online at https://impact.sowa.org/team/829903.

For more information about the Clallam County Law Enforcement Torch Run, contact Undersheriff Lorraine Shore at 360-417-2570 or Lorraine.shore@clallamcountywa.gov.

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Through a collaborative, multi-agency investigation utilizing advanced forensic genealogy, authorities confirmed the remains belong to Joseph Louis Serrao Jr.

According to his family, Serrao had been in Washington state before he disappeared, and their last known contact with him was in 1998.

The mystery began in July 2000, when a researcher exploring the remote Sol Duc River drainage came across a tent. Inside, skeletal remains were found in a sleeping bag, prompting the researcher to notify park authorities.

Following the discovery, the remains were transported to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, where a pathologist determined the deceased was likely a man between 30 and 50 years old who had been dead for anywhere from six months to four years.

Investigators with the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory processed items recovered from the campsite but were unable to develop usable latent fingerprints. For decades, the identity of the man remained unknown.

A pivotal breakthrough arrived in 2024. A forensic anthropologist with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office submitted a DNA sample from the remains to Othram, a laboratory specializing in forensic genealogy.

By analyzing a broad range of DNA markers, Othram successfully generated new investigative leads and identified potential family connections by 2025.

Acting on these leads, the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch reached out to relatives across several states, including Hawaii.

Investigators conducted interviews and collected reference DNA samples to compare against the remains. Ultimately, a combination of genetic, genealogical, and circumstantial evidence allowed officials to conclusively identify Serrao.

“This case remained unresolved for nearly 30 years, but investigators never lost sight of the goal of identifying this individual and finding answers for his family,” Debra Flowers, deputy chief of the National Park Service ISB, said in a news release.

“I’m proud of the persistence and collaboration that made this identification possible, and I hope it brings some measure of closure to those who have spent so many years wondering what happened to Joseph.”

The National Park Service did not disclose any details regarding a suspected cause of death.

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In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the state’s high court ruled that while a Pierce County Superior Court judge provided a potentially misleading jury instruction regarding what constitutes an “adverse employment action,” the error did not prejudice the county’s case.

Verduzco V King County Opinion

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The Origins of the Legal Battle

The lawsuit stems from a series of workplace conflicts involving Reynaldo S. Verduzco, who has worked for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks since 1992.

According to the Supreme Court opinion, the events leading to the retaliation claim began after Verduzco, who is Latino and uses hearing aids, was promoted to program manager in 2018 and subsequently raised concerns about potential bias in a hiring policy.

Verduzco alleged his section manager responded by yelling and berating him, making him feel his decisions were not being taken seriously because of his ethnicity.

The county’s human resources department investigated and concluded there had been no discrimination directed at Verduzco.

However, HR warned him about his approach and the tone and quantity of his e-mails. Verduzco’s supervisor subsequently issued a letter of expectations directing him to act professionally.

Tensions escalated over the following months. After Verduzco led a team meeting discussing the impact of a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, and a subsequent disagreement arose over a colleague attending his meetings uninvited, Verduzco and his supervisor, Charles Wu, attended a government race equity conference.

At the conference, Wu claimed Verduzco yelled, used profanity, and explicitly named several DNRP leaders as perpetuating racism. Verduzco maintained he did not yell or direct his comments at anyone.

Following this incident, and another dispute where Verduzco used his county e-mail to accuse a parking attendant of racist behavior after receiving a ticket, he received a substandard performance review and another letter of expectations.

The county then placed Verduzco on paid administrative leave for five months, altering the door codes to revoke his building access while investigations continued. He ultimately received a five-day unpaid suspension.

Upon his return, he was reassigned to a role with the same pay and classification but less responsibility, an action he described as feeling like a demotion.

A Confusing Jury Instruction

Verduzco sued King County under the Washington Law Against Discrimination, bringing claims of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and disability, as well as a claim of retaliation.

Following a trial in Pierce County Superior Court before Judge Garold E. Johnson, a jury found that the county did not discriminate against Verduzco based on his protected statuses.

However, the jury determined that the county had unlawfully retaliated against him for raising his concerns.

King County appealed the verdict, focusing on “Instruction 8,” a jury instruction proposed by Verduzco and approved by Judge Johnson over the county’s objections.

The instruction combined two separate legal definitions from the Washington Pattern Jury Instructions for an “adverse employment action”—one meant for discrimination claims and one for retaliation claims.

In a July 2024 unpublished opinion, the Court of Appeals Division II agreed with the county, concluding the combined instruction was erroneous, and ordered a new trial for the retaliation claim.

The Supreme Court’s Ruling

In Thursday’s decision, the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals.

Writing for the court, Justice Montoya-Lewis acknowledged that combining the two pattern definitions into a single instruction without further direction was ambiguous and potentially misleading to the jury.

However, the court emphasized that an erroneous jury instruction only warrants a reversal if it actually prejudices the challenging party.

The justices reasoned that by combining the two definitions, the trial court effectively narrowed the scope of actions the jury could consider.

This ambiguity arguably made it more difficult for Verduzco to prove his retaliation claim and easier for King County to defend itself.

“Rather than prejudicing the county, instruction 8 seems to have benefited it,” Montoya-Lewis wrote. “The instruction allowed the county to argue its theory of the case: that the unpaid suspension was the only adverse action it took and that doing so was justified, not retaliatory.”

Because King County failed to demonstrate that it was harmed by the misleading instruction, the Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals’ decision to grant a new trial based on that issue.

The high court remanded the case back to the Court of Appeals to resolve several additional issues raised in King County’s initial appeal that had been left undecided.

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In a decision authored by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, the state’s high court affirmed the disbarment of Shakespear N. Feyissa, rejecting his claims that the disciplinary hearing was fundamentally unfair and tainted by racial bias.

The ruling concludes a protracted disciplinary process involving hundreds of exhibits, a 12-day hearing, and multiple amended complaints stemming from Feyissa’s handling of personal injury settlements.

In Re Disciplinary Proceeding Feyissa

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The ‘Mahler’ Surcharge Controversy

The origins of the disciplinary action trace back to Feyissa’s handling of auto accident cases involving personal injury protection coverage.

According to the court’s opinion, Feyissa misunderstood a previous state supreme court ruling known as the Mahler decision, erroneously believing it entitled him to an extra cut of his clients’ PIP settlements.

Beginning in 2013, Feyissa inserted an ambiguous “Mahler provision” into his contingency fee agreements. The court found that across 16 client matters, Feyissa collected over $48,500 in excess fees.

With these additional markups, his total cut of some clients’ settlements reached 41 to 59 percent. In some cases, he applied the charge to clients whose contracts did not even contain the provision.

The court also found that Feyissa’s final accountings intentionally obscured the fact that he was keeping the extra money, and that he frequently misrepresented settlement amounts to insurers and medical providers to induce them to lower their outstanding bills.

Fabricated Evidence and Obstruction

The investigation into Feyissa intensified in August 2019 after his former paralegal filed a grievance, alleging that he had stolen from clients and directed her to lie to insurers.

The court’s opinion also detailed a separate grievance filed by a massage provider who treated one of Feyissa’s clients.

When the provider refused to reduce her $999 bill, Feyissa subjected her to verbal abuse, mailing a check for the exact amount alongside a note calling her “one horrible useless incompetent and stupid waste of a human.”

After the Office of Disciplinary Counsel began investigating the first grievance, Feyissa contacted three clients whose original fee agreements did not contain the controversial Mahler provision.

According to court findings, Feyissa drafted false declarations for the clients to sign. The declarations stated that the clients had lost their original fee agreements but were certain they had signed an agreement containing the Mahler provision.

Feyissa then inserted the Mahler provision into an old electronic file to create fabricated, backdated fee agreements. He attached these falsified documents to the declarations and gave them to his attorney, who submitted them to the ODC.

During the disciplinary hearing, Feyissa conceded that the declarations were false.

The Supreme Court rejected his argument that he was not responsible for his attorney submitting them, noting that a lawyer’s actions on behalf of a client are legally binding and that Feyissa intentionally created the false evidence for use in the proceeding.

Claims of Racial Bias Rejected

Feyissa, who immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia as a teenager, appealed the hearing officer’s initial recommendation of disbarment, arguing that the proceedings were impacted by racial bias.

He claimed that the hearing officer and ODC counsel relied on cultural stereotypes, ignored testimony from Black witnesses, and mischaracterized his behavior using coded language.

The Supreme Court flatly rejected these arguments after reviewing the entire record.

Addressing Feyissa’s claims, Justice Gordon McCloud wrote that the hearing officer properly admitted relevant testimony regarding cultural differences and that descriptions of Feyissa’s communications were based on extensive documentary evidence of his actual behavior, not stereotypes.

The court concluded that Feyissa “has not overcome the presumption that the [hearing officer] was unbiased.”

The court also dismissed Feyissa’s argument that his documented struggles with clinical depression should mitigate his sanction.

While the court acknowledged his genuine emotional difficulties during a stressful custody battle, it ruled that his depression did not explain his intentional decisions to falsify documents and obstruct the disciplinary process.

Upholding the disbarment, the Supreme Court emphasized that falsifying information during an attorney discipline proceeding is “one of the most egregious charges that can be leveled against an attorney.”

In addition to disbarment, the court affirmed an order assessing $33,984.88 in court reporter costs against Feyissa.

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During a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the government informed Chief Magistrate Judge Theresa L. Fricke that it was no longer seeking detention for Watts.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elyne Vaught and Watts’ defense attorney, John Black, agreed to a set of release conditions recommended by U.S. Pretrial Services.

Judge Fricke subsequently adopted the recommendations and signed an Order of Release.

Watts Bond

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Watts, a resident of Port Angeles, was released on an appearance bond that subjects him to strict supervision.

According to court documents, he must undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations, follow all treatment recommendations, and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

He is prohibited from consuming alcohol or possessing any unprescribed controlled substances.

The court also ordered Watts to surrender all current and expired passports, maintain or actively seek employment, and restrict his travel to the continental United States.

Watts is also barred from having any direct or indirect contact with witnesses or his co-defendant, Jonathan E. Karns.

Watts and Karns were arrested as part of a multi-agency narcotics investigation that culminated in the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and multiple firearms.

During their initial court appearances on June 5, both men pleaded not guilty to federal drug distribution charges.

Watts faces charges involving 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, while Karns is charged with offenses involving 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture.

Both defendants are identified in court documents as previously convicted felons, which legally prohibits them from possessing firearms.

While Watts has been granted pretrial release, Karns remains in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.

Karns is scheduled for his own detention hearing on Monday, June 15, at 1:00 p.m., where a judge will determine if there are conditions under which he can be released without posing a flight risk or a danger to the community.

Watts is scheduled to return to the federal courthouse in Tacoma for his next hearing on Thursday, June 18, at 3:00 p.m.

Cameron Lee George was arrested on Sunday, June 7, and has been charged by Pierce County prosecutors with obstructing a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 6:30 p.m. to an apartment complex in the 14100 block of Meridian East in South Hill.

The response was prompted by multiple calls from residents reporting a shirtless man lingering in the complex, speaking to children, and attempting to get them to play with him.

Upon arrival, deputies made contact with George. The sheriff’s office stated that George initially refused commands to stop moving around, prompting deputies to ask him to sit on the ground so they could safely detain him while investigating the neighbors’ complaints.

In body-worn camera footage released by the sheriff’s office, George is seen seated in the parking lot, strongly denying the callers’ allegations.

When asked directly by a deputy, George confirmed he is a convicted sex offender but insisted he was not engaging in any inappropriate behavior.

During the exchange, George argued that his registry status does not include restrictions preventing him from being near parks or schools.

The encounter escalated when deputies informed George he was being detained and instructed him to get into a police cruiser.

The sheriff’s office reported that George refused to enter the vehicle.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to verbally negotiate his compliance, body camera video shows a prolonged physical struggle on the pavement between George and the deputies as he actively resisted being put in the car.

George was eventually subdued, secured in the back of the patrol car, and booked into the Pierce County Jail.

In addition to the charges for obstruction and resisting arrest, the sheriff’s office stated that probable cause was established for interfering with an investigation and violating the terms of his sex offender registration.

Gabino Escalante Cruz was taken into custody by the Forks Police Department on the evening of June 6. During a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon, Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden found probable cause to hold the defendant.

The court confirmed the appointment of public defender Alex Stalker to represent Cruz.

Arguing that the defendant poses a flight risk and a threat to community safety, prosecutor Steve Johnson requested bail be set at $50,000. Johnson noted that Cruz allegedly attempted to prevent officers from transporting him to jail following his arrest.

The state also highlighted the defendant’s criminal history, noting three fourth-degree assault convictions—one carrying a domestic violence designation—between 2020 and 2023.

Cruz’s record also includes a 2021 reckless driving conviction, a 2019 driving under the influence conviction, a 2015 physical control conviction, and three failure-to-appear warrants issued in 2019.

Stalker requested that bail be reduced to between $5,000 and $10,000.

Judge Basden elected to maintain the $50,000 bail condition. While the judge expressed “limited concerns” regarding the defendant’s likelihood to appear for future court dates, he cited “significant concerns” about Cruz potentially interfering with the administration of justice.

Reviewing the probable cause affidavit, Basden stated that the allegations “seem to go beyond typical threats.” The affidavit alleges that Cruz threatened to kill law enforcement personnel and exhibited violence toward officers during the arrest process.

According to jail records, Cruz was booked on suspicion of multiple offenses, including third-degree assault, felony harassment, driving under the influence of alcohol, third-degree malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and hit-and-run of an unattended vehicle.

Prosecutors are expected to formally file charges during a hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday. An arraignment is set for Friday.

According to the Statement of Charges issued by the Department of Health, Christopher Bernard Otieno was employed as a nursing assistant at an adult family home in Federal Way from approximately June 17 through July 3, 2024.

The state documents allege that on or about July 3, 2024, Otieno’s employment was terminated after his employer observed that he “came to work and appeared to be intoxicated.”

During a subsequent inquiry by state health investigators, Otieno responded to a Letter of Cooperation.

According to the state’s Findings of Fact, Otieno submitted a written statement to a Department of Health investigator on April 28, 2025. In that response, Otieno acknowledged consuming alcohol prior to reporting to work.

20260522 Otieno M2025 155 Default Redacted 1

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Following the investigation, the Department of Health formally accused Otieno of unprofessional conduct on March 17, 2026.

The department cited RCW 18.130.180, which classifies the current misuse of alcohol by a licensed professional as unprofessional conduct that provides grounds for sanctions.

State records indicate that the Department served Otieno with the Statement of Charges and a notice of legal rights on April 8, 2026. Otieno was given until May 5, 2026, to file an answer to the allegations or request a hearing.

Because Otieno did not submit a response to the Adjudicative Clerk’s Office by the deadline, a Review Officer for the Secretary of Health proceeded with disciplinary action by default. On May 20, 2026, the state issued a Final Order of Default.

Under the default order, Otieno’s credential to practice as a nursing assistant-registered in Washington is indefinitely suspended.

Otieno was directed to immediately return all credentials to the Nursing Assistant Program within ten days and assume all costs of complying with the order.

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According to the statement of charges, dated March 18, 2026, the state board alleges that Packard failed to appropriately assess a patient for suicide risk and did not maintain proper written supervision agreements with subordinate staff members. Packard has held an active credential to practice psychology in Washington state since July 15, 1992.

The primary allegations stem from Packard’s treatment of a patient confidentially identified in state documents as “Client A.”

According to the statement of charges, Packard began providing counseling services to the individual on or around August 4, 2017. During the initial intake assessment, the client reportedly disclosed suicidal ideation.

Despite these reports, the state board alleges that “at that time and over the course of Client A’s treatment, Respondent failed to undertake an assessment of Client A’s suicide risk and failed to establish a safety plan for Client A.”

In addition to the patient care allegations, the Department of Health brings forward administrative claims regarding Packard’s oversight of junior practitioners.

According to the statement of charges, between approximately 2016 and 2020, Packard allegedly failed to maintain required written supervision agreements with one or more certified counselors or advisers practicing under his supervision.

State laws require licensed psychologists to maintain detailed written agreements with the counselors they oversee, outlining expectations, client confidentiality, and recordkeeping practices.

Based on these alleged facts, the Examining Board of Psychology claims that Packard committed unprofessional conduct in violation of state law.

Specifically, the statement of charges cites alleged violations of the Revised Code of Washington related to “incompetence, negligence, or malpractice which results in injury to a patient or which creates an unreasonable risk that a patient may be harmed,” as well as failing to exercise appropriate supervision.

The issuance of a statement of charges is a formal administrative step in the regulatory process, and the claims detailed within the document are strictly allegations at this stage.

According to the document, Packard has been formally notified of the allegations and has the opportunity to defend against the charges.

Richard L Packard Statement of Charges

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If he fails to respond or defend against the allegations, the Examining Board of Psychology notes that he shall be subject to professional discipline and the imposition of sanctions under state law.

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Carl King, 23, appeared for the brief status hearing, which was presided over by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden.

King, who was booked into jail following his April arrest, has been free on bail while awaiting trial.

During the proceeding, King’s defense attorney, John Hayden, requested a brief delay to allow his client time to formally retain private representation.

Judge Basden ruled that the court will pause further substantive actions until new counsel is officially on record. However, the court kept the existing trial schedule intact.

The court scheduled the next hearing, which is set to address the case’s status and pending pre-trial motions, for July 2 at 9 a.m.

Judge Elizabeth Stanley is the assigned judge for the case, and the July 2 proceeding is scheduled to take place in her courtroom.

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Stephan A. Charlot, represented by defense attorney Jesse Guerrero Cantor, appeared before U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson in the Western District of Washington after pleading guilty to one federal count of distribution of a controlled substance.

Charlot had been in federal and tribal custody since his initial arrest by the Lummi Nation Police Department on June 21, 2025.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the federal charge followed a May 2025 tribal police investigation into the overdose death of an adult female tribal member.

During the investigation, an adult male witness admitted to purchasing $20 worth of fentanyl from Charlot at his reservation home, which the witness then shared with the deceased woman.

Court documents carefully outline the legal boundaries of Charlot’s culpability regarding the death. Charlot and the witness were both initially charged in tribal court with drug distribution and homicide.

However, court records emphasize that the tribal homicide charges against both men were subsequently dismissed after a toxicology report failed to establish a direct causal connection between the fentanyl and the woman’s death.

The witness pleaded guilty to drug distribution in tribal court, while Charlot set his case for trial and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury strictly on the distribution charge.

In her sentencing memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia A. Lee explicitly noted that while Charlot “is not legally responsible” for the woman’s death, his distribution of fentanyl “significantly harmed others within his community.”

The memorandum highlighted that the incident resulted in significant public outcry and a demand for solutions to the fentanyl crisis on the reservation.

Court filings also detail Charlot’s long-standing struggle with substance abuse. A former fisherman who worked in Blaine, Wash., Charlot reportedly began using drugs as a teenager and had been using fentanyl daily from 2021 until his arrest.

The government also noted in its filings that before police could search Charlot’s cell phone during the investigation, he and his girlfriend successfully performed a factory reset.

Judge Evanson adopted the joint sentencing recommendation proposed by both the prosecution and the defense.

As part of his three-year supervised release, Charlot must adhere to several strict conditions as he transitions back into the community.

According to federal court filings, Charlot still faces outstanding arrest warrants on separate, pending cases and was anticipated to be transported to address those matters following Monday’s sentencing.

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Beeman was arrested following an alleged unprovoked assault on his 71-year-old next-door neighbor, Robert Graul.

The incident was thwarted by State Senator Mike Chapman, who witnessed the altercation and physically shielded Graul from further harm.

Since his initial court appearance on April 1—where he was entirely non-responsive—Beeman has remained in custody while undergoing a court-ordered competency evaluation.

Timeline

On April 17, 2026, appearing before Judge Elizabeth Stanley, the court signed an agreed order for competency restoration. During this hearing, Beeman declined to sign a firearms order.

The case returned to Judge Stanley for a competency review on May 22, 2026. At that time, the State informed the court that the standard 45-day restoration period was not yet complete, pausing the legal process until the evaluation center’s next review.

Most recently, during a motion hearing before Judge Brent Basden on June 5, 2026, the State confirmed that the finalized competency report was forthcoming.

Judge Basden set the next competency review hearing for June 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

The findings of the pending report may determine whether Beeman is deemed legally fit to finally face arraignment and enter a plea, or if he requires further institutional restoration before the justice system can proceed.

John C. Judy was arrested on Monday, June 1, 2026. During a preliminary court appearance the following day, his bail was set at $50,000.

According to court minutes, Judy remained in custody as of a June 4 hearing. He is scheduled to appear for an initial arraignment on Tuesday, June 9, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Brent Basden.

According to a probable cause narrative filed by Port Angeles Police Officer Nathan Clark, police responded to a reported “rolling” domestic disturbance near 1st and Chase Street at approximately 7:22 p.m.

26 1 00147 05 Motion For Arrest Detention Probable Cause

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While responding, Officer Clark reported that a light blue car, allegedly driven by Judy, swerved directly into his lane. Clark stated he was forced to pull completely to the curb to avoid a head-on collision.

“I believe that had I not swerved out of the way, John would have struck me with his vehicle,” Clark wrote in the police report, noting that the suspect’s vehicle appeared to be accelerating toward him.

Police allege the driver then ran a red light and initiated a vehicular pursuit.

According to the report, the vehicle reached estimated speeds exceeding 60 mph in a 25-mph residential zone, crossing into oncoming traffic lanes and failing to slow for intersections.

The pursuit concluded at a dead end on the 600 block of East 7th Street.

According to Officer Clark, Judy exited the driver’s seat with his keys in his hand, approached the officer, emptied his pockets, and stated he needed to sit in the back of the patrol car.

Inside the suspect’s vehicle, police located three passengers: Judy’s former girlfriend of five years, Victoria Tyler; their 1-year-old child; and an adult male, identified in the police narrative as Benjamin Kenney and in subsequent court release orders as Benjamin Kennedy.

According to the police narrative, the passengers described a chaotic scene inside the vehicle.

Kenney reportedly told police that Judy was “really drunk” and that the occupants begged him to stop the car after nearly crashing multiple times.

When Tyler attempted to call 911, Judy allegedly “went berserk” and refused to let the passengers exit. Kenney told investigators that Judy struck Tyler with his fists and her phone while trying to take the device from her.

A review of 911 dispatch audio noted in the police report corroborated the passengers’ accounts.

On the audio, Tyler can allegedly be heard crying and yelling, “He’s gonna kill us,” and, “He’s hurting me,” while Judy is heard demanding she “get out” and “hang up.”

Once the vehicle stopped, Kenney was recorded on the line stating, “I thought we were gonna die,” according to the police report.

Following his arrest, Judy admitted to consuming several drinks, police stated.

According to court records, breath tests administered at the station registered breath-alcohol results ranging from 0.236 to 0.254, which is approximately three times the legal driving limit of 0.08 in Washington State.

Court records also indicate that Tyler disclosed an additional, previously unreported incident to police.

She alleged that approximately a week prior, an intoxicated Judy had driven recklessly, attempted to run over a pedestrian on a sidewalk before swerving at the last second, stated he could kill them both, and shoved her out of his moving vehicle. Tyler stated she had been too frightened to report the incident at the time.

Judy was booked into the Clallam County Jail on recommended charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, attempting to elude a police vehicle, fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, and three counts each of unlawful imprisonment and reckless endangerment.

According to an order establishing conditions of release filed June 2, if Judy posts his $50,000 bail, he is restricted to travel within Washington State, prohibited from possessing any firearms or other deadly weapons, and barred from contacting the alleged victims.

According to court minutes filed June 4, Judge Elizabeth Stanley appointed conflict public defender Lane Wolfley to represent Judy.

According to the statement of charges issued by the state’s Massage Therapy Program on May 4, 2026, the inquiry centers on Heidi Melosa Eberle.

The Department of Health initially received a complaint on Dec. 10, 2024, alleging that Eberle had “engaged in conduct of a sexual nature with clients.”

However, the current formal charges against Eberle pertain to her alleged evasion of the state’s inquiry rather than the initial complaint itself. She is formally charged with unprofessional conduct for failing to cooperate with the disciplinary authority.

According to the statement of charges, Department of Health investigators sent Eberle a letter of cooperation in April 2025 requesting information regarding the alleged conduct, but the department received no response by the May deadline.

Five months later, on Oct. 7, 2025, the state issued a formal Statement of Allegations regarding her alleged failure to cooperate.

Shortly after that notice was issued, Eberle reportedly contacted the department on Oct. 16, 2025, advising officials that she had been “out of the state for an extended period,” the charging document states.

In light of that conversation, the department reissued its letters of cooperation on two separate occasions—in late October 2025 and again in January 2026. Despite extending the deadlines, the department alleges it has still not received the requested written response, according to the statement of charges.

Under RCW 18.130.180, it constitutes unprofessional conduct when a license holder fails to cooperate with a disciplining authority by not furnishing a full and complete written explanation covering the matters contained in a filed complaint.

Eberle’s state massage therapist credential, which was originally issued in December 2022, is currently expired, the document notes.

The executive director of the Massage Therapy Program directed that a notice be issued and served to Eberle, providing her with the opportunity to defend against the current charges.

According to the statement of charges, if she fails to do so, she will be subject to formal discipline and the imposition of sanctions under state law.

The Department of Health noted in the filing that if or when it eventually receives the requested information, the program may evaluate the evidence to determine whether additional violations are present or if further sanctions regarding the original 2024 complaint are warranted.

Heidi Melosa Eberle Statement Of Charges

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A statement of charges represents formal allegations made by the Department of Health, rather than established findings of fact.

According to a statement of charges dated May 14, 2026, Jacqueline Renee Alley faces potential disciplinary action under Washington state law.

Jacqueline Renee Alley Statement Of Charges

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Alley originally received her credential to practice as an agency-affiliated counselor in February 2023, and state records indicate her credential expired on August 17, 2025.

The allegations stem from Alley’s interactions with an individual identified in the charging documents only as “Client A.”

According to the statement of charges, Alley was assigned to Client A as a peer counselor on or after May 5, 2025. The Department of Health alleges that Alley subsequently allowed the client to live with her for several months in 2025.

While the two were cohabitating, professional boundaries were allegedly breached. According to the charging document, on or about July 20, 2025, Alley sent Client A an email detailing what she looked for in a partner.

The state claims this communication included Alley expressing a desire for a partner who made her feel “desired, sexy, and loved.”

The Department of Health also alleges that a physical altercation occurred during the living arrangement. According to the statement of charges, Alley physically attacked Client A and inflicted self-harm while arguing with the client.

Furthermore, the document outlines concerns regarding Alley’s mental wellness and her capacity to provide care.

According to the state document, Alley admitted on or about January 27, 2026, to experiencing thoughts of self-harm and suicide. The document also notes that Alley reportedly disclosed suffering a “complete mental breakdown” in October 2025.

The statement of charges serves as formal notice to Alley, granting her the opportunity to request a hearing to defend against the allegations.

According to the document, any hearing would be limited to the sole issue of her capacity to practice.

If Alley fails to defend against these charges, or if the disciplining authority determines she is unable to safely practice, she will be subject to discipline and the imposition of sanctions deemed necessary to protect the public.

Now, newly surfaced federal court documents provide a stark, statistical look at the district’s track record, confirming that the high-profile incidents previously reported were part of a persistent, decade-long pattern that district leadership was forced to manage year after year.

As part of the federal civil rights lawsuit Larson v. Quillayute Valley School District, the district was legally compelled to answer a series of “Interrogatories”—formal written questions that must be answered under oath and submitted to the court.

When asked by the plaintiff’s attorneys to identify all documents including complaints of discrimination against the district over the last ten years, the district’s legal counsel provided a summarized list of “all sex harassment or boundary invasion-based discrimination complaints received in the past 10 years.”

Pages 9 through 12 of the court filing are included below. These pages list details of 19 separate incidents involving staff, coaches, and students between the 2015-2025 school years.

According to the statement of charges, dated May 8, 2026, the allegations stem from Lee’s appointment by the Clark County Superior Court in March 2020.

Lee was tasked with conducting a bilateral custody evaluation for an individual identified in the documents as “Parent A” during a dissolution proceeding.

The charging document outlines multiple instances where Lee allegedly failed to properly safeguard sensitive information.

According to the board, Lee provided a draft evaluation that contained the names of individuals who were not a party to Parent A’s evaluation.

Furthermore, the statement of charges alleges that during a video deposition on April 8, 2021, Lee appeared on camera with client names visibly on display behind him.

In addition to the alleged privacy breaches, the Department of Health claims Lee practiced below the accepted standard of care in his bilateral custody evaluation, dated October 23, 2020.

According to the statement of charges, Lee allegedly failed to include an explanation as to why he omitted parent-child observations as a component of the evaluation.

The document further alleges that Lee failed to document his direct observations of the parties’ behaviors, note any testing limitations, or document his reasons for declining to speak with collateral contacts provided by Parent A.

Based on these alleged facts, the Examining Board of Psychology contends that Lee’s actions constitute unprofessional conduct under Washington state law.

The charges cite violations of the Revised Code of Washington, specifically pointing to alleged incompetence, negligence, or malpractice that creates an unreasonable risk of harm to a patient.

The state also cites alleged violations of the Washington Administrative Code requiring psychologists to safeguard confidential client information.

Lee Statement Of Charges

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Lee has held an active credential to practice psychology in Washington state since February 2012.

A statement of charges represents formal allegations made by the Department of Health, rather than established findings of fact.

According to the document, Lee has been issued a formal notice giving him the opportunity to defend against the charges. If he fails to respond, the state notes he may be subject to professional discipline and the imposition of sanctions under state law.