A 33-year-old Seattle man was in Kitap County Superior Court Sept. 3 arrested on five charges, including human trafficking, for which he faces life in prison and $50,000 in fines.
Other charges were second-degree assault (10 years, $20,000 fine); unlawful possession of a firearm (10 and $20K); possession of a stolen firearm (10 and $20K); and resisting arrest (90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine).
Court records show Bremerton police responded Aug. 28 at 12:15 p.m. to an inn on 4th Street. A woman said she had been a victim of sex trafficking by her boyfriend. She said she had arrived from Dallas and stood up for herself for the first time and told him she would no longer put up with his cheating behavior.
He started calling her names and demanding money from her Bremerton “appointments.” He said it wasn’t enough and grabbed her by the throat. Later he was over her using a closed fist to strike her. He also was carrying a firearm. He told her stories of pistol-whipping women who did not turn over money from their “tricks.” She showed police a video that shows the suspect’s tattoos and an AK47-style rifle.
She said the suspect talked her into prostitution as a way for them to reach their “dream life,” making $100,000, getting married, having kids and buying a house together where she could be a stay-at-home mom. She said the suspect started out “charismatic, charming” and would “treat her like a princess” but over time became abusive. He took control of her life by “managing” her possessions, social media, bank accounts and personal identification. She also had to create ads on several websites.
She would either drive or be driven to a state and city with a high amount of interest in prostitution and go to a house, hotel or Airbnb. He would give her money for a plane ticket if it was out of state. If the client pays with Apple Pay or Cashapp she sends the entire amount to the suspect electronically. She estimated she had given him $25,000 in the previous four months.
She fears if she leaves him she would have no money to live on. She recognized that the suspect would “constantly use the fact she loved him against her to manipulate and pressure her to keep working in prostitution.” She had asked how much he had saved toward their “dream,” and he would get mad and accuse her of not trusting him.
She turned over 180 pieces of evidence supporting her claims.
Kitsap County SWAT helped catch the suspect at the inn. He attempted to flee but was tackled to the ground. He had almost $1,000 cash, suspected cannabis and a stolen handgun. He already has two felony convictions for assault.
The victim was “grateful for the arrest” but also “visibly upset and scared about the consequences.” The suspect was invited into the interview room and their discussion “cemented” in her mind that he didn’t really care for her. She realized he only cares about the money, as they seldom had sex anymore.
British baton
A 43-year-old Belfair who hit a victim with a long baton, “something like a British police officer would carry,” was in Kitsap County Superior Court Sept. 3.
Bail was set at $400,000; he was charged with residential burglary and second-degree assault. He faces 20 years in prison and $40,000 in fines.
Court records say Kitsap deputies responded to the 8300 block of Glenwood Road SW in Port Orchard Aug. 31 at 8:46 p.m. The reporting party said the suspect, her ex-boyfriend, was banging on the door with a long baton something like a British police officer would carry.
When a man answered, he was accused of sleeping with his girlfriend. The suspect shoved him then hit him up to six times with the up to 18-inch baton. The victim said about four times he was hit in the head with it.
Hit and run
A 25-year-old Bremerton man was in Superior Court Sept. 3 charged with hit and run and driving with a suspended license.
Bail was $50,000. He faces six years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
Court records say Bremerton police responded to the intersection of Wheaton Way and Sylvan Way at 11:15 p.m. Aug. 31. The suspect driver hit three stopped cars then ran from the scene.
His injured passenger who was intoxicated was left behind, as was an injured person in the first car he hit. Open beer cans fell from the truck the suspect was driving.
The owner of the truck said it belonged to his business and was being driven by an employee. Contacted the following day, and using the assistance of a Spanish translator, the man admitted to committing the crime.
Gun in vehicle
A 27-year-old Port Orchard man was in Superior Court Sept. 3 charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, DUI and making false statements to a public servant.
Bail was $50,000. He faces seven years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Court records say Poulsbo police arrived in the 800 block of NW Advance Drive at 12:45 a.m. Aug. 31. A disoriented man was within 3 feet of some parked cars with his vehicle running. An officer got him to turn off the vehicle.
The driver said he had been clean of drugs for 32 days, but the officer did not believe him. He was unsteady when taking field sobriety tests. Another officer came and saw a gun in the side door of the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect had given the officer a false name, and there was a warrant for his arrest. The gun was stolen 1 1/2 years ago in Marysville. He had three previous felony convictions.
Drug arrest
A 34-year-old Poulsbo man was in Superior Court Sept. 3 charged with possession of meth and driving with a revoked license.
Bail was $95,000. He faces 11 years in prison and at least $6,000 in fines.
Court records show Aug. 31 at 4:47 p.m. Kitsap deputies responded to the 9500 block of Ridgetop Boulevard NW in Silverdale. A man was passed out in his car. The suspect drove off when Central Kitsap Fire came to assess him. When deputies met up with him, they saw a large can of Bear spray in the door panel, 16 shaved keys partially hidden and an open bottle of Fireball.
He admitted two weeks earlier he was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. Also found were $1,300 in cash and 36 fentanyl pills. Also found were a syringe, 4.9 grams of fentanyl powder, 10 grams ot black tar heroin and 119.6 grams of meth. Fentanyl powder is worth up to $50 a gram and pills up to $2 each.
The suspect took off, but tripped and fell about 20 yards away before being apprehended again.
ID theft
A 38-year-old Port Orchard woman was in Superior Court Sept. 4 arrested on a warrant for identity theft.
Bail was $50,000. She faces five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Court records say Kitsap deputies responded Nov. 6, 2023 at 11:55 a.m. to Dick’s Sporting Goods in Silverdale. A woman used a stolen credit card to spend about $400 at Target, $1,433 at Dicks Sporting Goods, $640 at GameStop and $650 at Sierra Trading Post. The boyfriend of the suspect was caught attempting to return items at Dicks that were purchased with the stolen card. Security footage shows it was a woman who bought the items.
