A day after we reported the state suspension of a Port Angeles counselor’s credential, newly obtained records reveal she is facing additional legal hurdles in two states. Jessica Constant, whose agency-affiliated counselor credential suspension took effect in April following a Washington State Department of Health hearing, was recently

A recent state audit revealed that the South Kitsap School District received an estimated $871,727 in overpayments from a federal grant program meant to support military-connected students with severe disabilities. According to the Financial Statements and Federal Single Audit Report published May 29, 2026, by the Office of

The Washington State Department of Health has indefinitely suspended the credential of a Port Angeles agency-affiliated counselor after she failed to meet the reporting conditions of a four-year probationary agreement. According to state records, Jessica Mae Constant’s credential was suspended following a March 11 adjudicative hearing. Health

Five months ago, The Olympic Herald was launched with a single, uncompromising mission: to provide fearless, independent investigative journalism that holds power accountable. 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

In Washington State, judicial dysfunction often takes different forms. 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

The legal process to extradite a 43-year-old Port Angeles man accused of a 2008 North Carolina double homicide took a step forward during a Friday morning court hearing. Johnny Steven Talbert appeared in Clallam County Superior Court for a scheduled extradition review. During the proceeding, the court was

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

Human remains discovered more than a quarter-century ago in a remote section of Olympic National Park have been positively identified as a man originally from Hawaii, the National Park Service announced Wednesday. Through a collaborative, multi-agency investigation utilizing advanced forensic genealogy, authorities confirmed the remains belong to Joseph

The Washington State Supreme Court handed down an en banc opinion on Thursday, reversing a lower appellate court’s decision that had overturned a retaliation verdict against King County in an employment discrimination lawsuit. In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the state’s high court ruled

The Washington State Supreme Court handed down an en banc opinion on Thursday, unanimously disbarring an attorney who submitted fabricated evidence to the state bar to cover up unreasonable fee charges. In a decision authored by Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud, the state’s high court affirmed the disbarment of Shakespear

Former Clallam County Drug Court Coordinator Johnny F. Watts Jr. was released from federal custody Wednesday afternoon after prosecutors dropped their request to keep him detained pending trial on federal drug charges. During a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the government informed Chief Magistrate Judge Theresa

A 31-year-old Port Angeles man is facing charges in Pierce County after a physical altercation with sheriff’s deputies who were investigating reports of suspicious behavior over the weekend. Cameron Lee George was arrested on Sunday, June 7, and has been charged by Pierce County prosecutors with obstructing

A 32-year-old man is currently being held in the Clallam County Correction Facility on $50,000 bail. He is accused of fighting with police and threatening to kill them during a weekend arrest. Gabino Escalante Cruz was taken into custody by the Forks Police Department on the evening

The Washington State Department of Health has indefinitely suspended the credential of a registered nursing assistant after he allegedly reported to work under the influence of alcohol and failed to respond to formal disciplinary charges. According to the Statement of Charges issued by the Department of Health, Christopher Bernard Otieno

The Washington State Department of Health’s Examining Board of Psychology has issued a statement of charges against licensed psychologist Richard L. Packard, alleging unprofessional conduct. According to the statement of charges, dated March 18, 2026, the state board alleges that Packard failed to appropriately assess a patient for suicide

The criminal case against a Sequim man facing child exploitation charges remains on track for trial following a status hearing Friday in Clallam County Superior Court. Carl King, 23, appeared for the brief status hearing, which was presided over by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden. King, who was

A 30-year-old member of the Lummi Nation Tribe was sentenced Monday to time served and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl on the Lummi Reservation. Stephan A. Charlot, represented by defense attorney Jesse Guerrero Cantor, appeared before U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson in the

The legal proceedings for Joseph “Wes” Beeman, the 46-year-old Port Angeles man accused of an attack on his elderly neighbor, remain on hold as the court awaits a competency evaluation report. Beeman was arrested following an alleged unprovoked assault on his 71-year-old next-door neighbor, Robert

A 23-year-old Port Angeles man is facing multiple recommended charges following an alleged high-speed pursuit, a suspected DUI, and a reported domestic violence incident that left three passengers trapped inside a moving vehicle, according to court records. John C. Judy was arrested on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The Washington State Department of Health has filed formal charges against a formerly licensed massage therapist, alleging she failed to cooperate with an investigation into a prior complaint, according to a recently released statement of charges. According to the statement of charges issued by the state’s Massage Therapy Program

The Washington State Department of Health has issued a statement of charges against a former agency-affiliated counselor, alleging she is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety following accusations involving a client. According to a statement of charges dated May 14, 2026, Jacqueline Renee Alley faces potential disciplinary