Bail Set for Three People Who Allegedly Burglarized a House That Was Supposed to Be Sold the Next Day

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Three suspects have been charged with residential burglary after they were caught this week in a Centralia home — which was on the market and going to be sold the next day.

Co-defendants Brian Lee Bush, 27, of Tenino; Megan Rose Louise Smith, 26, of Chehalis and Frank Ira Flores, 34, transient, made their preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday and each face one count of residential burglary.

Residential burglary is a class B felony and is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office asked for bail to be set at $30,000 for each of the suspects.

The co-defendants’ attorney for the day, Kevin Nelson, did not argue on the bail amount for Bush, who has 11 prior warrants and five prior convictions, and Smith, who has three pending third-degree theft charges, nine prior warrants and five probation violations, according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.

For Flores, who was also appearing in court that day for charges not related to the residential burglary, Nelson argued the bail should be half of what prosecutors requested.

“The purpose of bail is to set a reasonable amount to ensure the defendants comply to the court orders ...” Nelson said. “Given my client’s current financial needs, that he is on state assistance, I believe $15,000 on each matter would be more than enough in all of those areas.”

Flores has 18 prior warrants, two active warrants and was convicted of third-degree rape of a child, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Superior Court Judge J. Andrew Toynbee agreed with prosecutors for bail to be set at $30,000 for Bush and Smith. Toynbee set bail at $20,000 each for Flores’ alleged involvement in the burglary and for the separate case. According to the Lewis County Jail roster, Flores’ second case is for escape from community custody and failure to register as a sex offender. 

According to court documents, at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a Centralia police officer was dispatched to a residence on Ash Street after it was reported that someone was inside the vacant house.

The owner of the residence, who had the house on the market, was supposed to be selling the house the next day, according to court documents.

When the officer arrived at the residence he reported that he could see a light coming from inside the house and could hear movement from inside the house.

The owner of the house and the real estate agent, along with additional law enforcement, came to the residence while the suspects were still inside, according to court documents. 

The owner provided the keys to the house and inside law enforcement found two men, Bush and Flores.

Smith was taking a shower when police arrived, according to court documents.

Police suspect the trio was able to gain access to the house by breaking a window, based on the damage to a window screen.

After the suspects were detained, officers searched the house and found in one of the bedrooms cushions on the ground with a blanket that appeared to be used as a bed, according to court documents.

Additionally, in the kitchen there was a frying pan with freshly cooked food along with beer cans. In the garage, Smith had parked her car. There was also a strong odor of cigarettes and marijuana throughout the house, according to court documents.

Toynbee scheduled each of the suspects’ arraignment for March 5 at 3 p.m.