Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer discusses local drug activity with a Chronicle reporter and law enforcement officials in September.
A woman accused of burglarizing Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer’s home in retaliation for prosecuting her family member is due to enter a plea in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday.
Janet Lynn Gleason, 42, of Centralia, was charged on Oct. 29 with residential burglary, first-degree trafficking in stolen property and second-degree malicious mischief in the February burglary in the 2900 block of Mt. Vista Road in Centralia.
Meyer told The Chronicle Monday the burglary occurred at his home.
“It’s tough on a personal note,” he said. “I understand some people don’t like me because of the job I do. To involve my family, that takes it to a whole other level.”
Gleason is being held on $50,000 bail. Her arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
Robert W. Collins, 38, an inmate at the Thurston County Jail, has also been arrested for his role in the burglary.
According to court documents, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the burglary at 3 p.m. on Feb. 10. Deputies arrived and interviewed the homeowners — Meyer and his family. Their daughter found the door open and damaged when she came home from school that day, according to court documents.
The master bedroom was in disorder and jewelry and other personal items were taken, including two badges — Meyer’s prosecutor badge, and a Tenino police badge. Meyer was a reserve officer with the Tenino Police Department at the time.
No suspects were immediately identified.
In September, the Sheriff’s Office learned Collins had information on the burglary. He told Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey that he and Gleason went to the house, and he forced the door open, according to court documents.
Collins said Gleason then ran into the house and took items. He told Kimsey he saw the badges and thought they burglarized a police officer’s house. Gleason then told him it was a prosecutor’s house, and that she was getting back at him for prosecuting her son, according to court documents.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Gleason was arrested at 7:40 p.m. on Oct. 28 after detectives received a tip that she was at a home in the 2100 block of North Pearl Street. They found her hiding in an attached garage.
Gleason initially denied involvement with the burglary, but later admitted to being at the home. However, she said Collins broke in and took the items.
Meyer said he and his family didn’t get many of the items stolen back. His high school class ring was found in a parking lot in Olympia. A jewelry box and watch box were both recovered. A necklace that was taken was partially melted down, but the remaining portion was recovered.
