Forks Man Sentenced to 90 Days for Assaulting, Threatening Officer

A Forks man was sentenced to 90 days in jail and a year of community custody Thursday after pleading guilty to assaulting and threatening a law enforcement officer.

Gabino Escalante Cruz, 32, pleaded guilty on September 24 in Clallam County Superior Court to third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and felony harassment against a criminal justice participant. Both offenses are Class C felonies.

Judge Elizabeth Stanley followed a sentencing recommendation supported by both the prosecution and defense, imposing the sentence under Washington’s first-time offender waiver.

Cruz received credit for eligible time already served in this case, with the jail responsible for calculating that credit.

In his signed plea statement, Cruz admitted intentionally assaulting officer William Verplank while Verplank was performing his official duties.

He also admitted threatening Verplank with bodily injury and placing him in reasonable fear that the threat would be carried out. The plea statement and judgment date the offenses to on or about June 5.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to file DUI or other related charges arising from the same Forks Police Department investigation.

Judge Stanley found Cruz eligible for the first-time offender waiver.

Under state law, the waiver allows eligible defendants with no prior felony convictions or felony deferred prosecutions to receive up to 90 days of confinement. It also permits up to a year of community custody when treatment is ordered.

During his year of community custody under Department of Corrections supervision, Cruz must report as directed to a community corrections officer, refrain from possessing or consuming alcohol, obtain a substance use disorder evaluation and comply with recommended treatment.

The court also found Cruz indigent and waived legal financial obligations.