Bail has been set at $1 million for a man accused of threatening a woman with a knife and destroying items with an ax inside a residence between Doty and Pe Ell on Tuesday.
The woman had reportedly asked the man, identified as George Steven Gonzalez, 48, of Chehalis, to leave the residence after she broke up with him the night of Sept. 5, according to court documents. Two other people were reportedly inside the house at the time.
Gonzalez allegedly “became very upset and stated he wasn’t leaving” then “grabbed a large knife and began to walk towards (the woman) and stated ‘one of you isn’t going to leave today,’” according to court documents.
One of the witnesses stated “she saw Gonzalez first grab a screwdriver and then put that down only to grab the knife.”
One of the other people in the house reportedly stepped between Gonzalez and the woman as he walked toward her, allowing her to run out of the house and call 911.
At that point, Gonzalez allegedly “placed the knife to his own throat and threatened to kill himself,” according to court documents. One person stayed inside to “calm Gonzalez down” while the others left the house.
Gonzalez then allegedly “grabbed an ax and began to destroy items in the living room,” at which point the person who had stayed behind “decided to leave,” according to court documents.
Deputies with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the residence just after 9:40 p.m. on Sept. 5.
Gonzalez was reportedly sitting outside when deputies arrived. When questioned, Gonzalez allegedly “denied ever having a screwdriver or knife, but then changed his story and admitted he had a screwdriver but not a knife,” “admitted he did not leave immediately when (the woman) told him to do so” and “did admit to damaging some items inside the residence,” according to court documents.
Deputies reportedly confirmed drywall and two mirrors inside the home were damaged. They also reportedly found the knife allegedly used to threaten the woman.
Gonzalez was booked into the Lewis County Jail at 12:05 a.m. on Sept. 6 and has since been charged with one count each of second-degree assault, residential burglary and felony harassment, all with domestic violence qualifiers.
“The allegations in this case are extremely concerning … and Mr. Gonzalez has one of the worst assault histories I’ve ever seen,” Judge Joely Yeager said during Gonzalez’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, referencing Gonzalez’s criminal history, which includes multiple assault convictions between 2010 and 2022.
Gonzalez has been convicted on two prior serious assault cases that are considered felony “strike” offenses. Under Washington state law, a defendant convicted of three separate “strike” offenses is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
With Gonzalez now facing a possible third strike with the current case, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson expressed concern Gonzalez would attempt to flee if released from jail and asked Yeager either approve a no bail hold or set bail at $1 million.
While defense attorney Rachael Tiller said Gonzalez was not financially able to post bail and asked for bail to be set no higher than $500,000, Yeager opted to set Gonzalez’s bail at $1 million.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12.
A no-contact order protecting the victim is in place.
