Bail was set at $1 million for a Winlock man charged Monday in Lewis County Superior Court with felony stalking, domestic violence; violation of court order, domestic violence; and second-degree criminal trespassing, domestic violence after allegedly stalking his ex-wife.
David Dupree, 55, allegedly violated a protection order that prohibited him from contacting his ex-wife or her minor children, being within 1,000 feet of the property or from committing stalking behavior that includes keeping the protected parties under surveillance, according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
On June 15, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a protection order violation in Winlock, with Dupree’s ex-wife reporting that he was on the property. The deputy confirmed the presence of a valid protection order. The victim reportedly told the deputy that she had seen Dupree on her camera that is located approximately 150 feet west of the main residence, according to court documents. In the video, the deputy could reportedly see a male watching Dupree’s description walking toward the residence; he was wearing a green jacket, grey pants, a large backpack with a sleeping bag attached, and a green hat. Dupree also had a camouflage covering over his face and what appeared to be a pair of binoculars in his hand, court documents state.
The deputy reviewed other reports in which Dupree took a similar route to the residence. His ex-wife stated it was not surprising that he came to the residence on June 15 as he “usually violates the order on holidays or family events such as birthdays as (June 15) was Father’s Day,” according to court documents.
The victim further advised that Dupree’s behavior has placed her in fear for her life as his behavior is “escalating,” and he has allegedly hurt her in the past, court documents said. She also reportedly told police that he has made threats in the past that “he will come take what is his.”
The victim located an area on the property that appeared to be where Dupree had camped as the grass had been matted down consistent with someone placing a tent or sleeping bag.
In the past calendar year alone, Dupree has multiple felony stalking charges and six protection order violations. On Jan. 25, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a similar trespass call in which an unidentified male was reportedly dressed in camouflaged clothing and appeared to be “looking toward the residence,” according to charging documents filed on Jan. 27. The victim, Dupree’s ex-wife, told police that she was scared and was watching the suspect, who she assumed was Dupree, on her security camera from inside the house. In one video clip, the suspect allegedly stood up and was using binoculars to try to look through the window of the residence. She reportedly said Dupree has done similar things in the past but had evaded being caught.
When police caught and identified Dupree running through the brush toward his location, he was reportedly wearing a backpack with food supplies, four knives, gloves, a headlamp, sleeping bag and binoculars. He allegedly appeared on the day of a relative’s birthday in which family was going to be at the property, according to court documents.
The Jan. 25 matter was brought to Dupree’s court appearance Monday to review conditions of release, while a preliminary hearing was held for the June 15 incident. Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller suggested that the Jan. 25 incident be set over to Thursday so that Dupree’s attorney on that matter, Christopher Baum, could be present, and Judge Joely Yeager agreed.
Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Meyer told the court that a no-bail bench warrant was issued for Dupree’s arrest for the January matter and that he was arrested on that. Meyer asked the court to maintain the no-bail hold.
“The court has the ability to hold the defendant on no bail if they find that he violated the conditions of release. Now, I would argue, or I would submit to the court, that, based upon the finding of probable cause on (the June 15 incident), the court has automatically found that he has violated the conditions of release,” Meyer said. “We’re going to ask for $1 million on (the June 15 incident). The facts in these cases are outrageous. We are concerned that we are going to be responding to a homicide scene if this defendant is let out of jail.”
Tiller responded that Dupree would like to post bail in both matters and requested the court require a bail of no more than $50,000 citing “limited” case history and that he has not missed a court date. She said Dupree is a health care provider in Lewis County who would like to be able to continue with his profession. Dupree previously posted $15,000 bail for his January arrest and was out of custody for his preliminary hearing held then.
Yeager said Dupree has a no-bail hold on the January matter pending a hearing, which she set for Thursday, July 10, before setting bail on the June incident for $1 million.
“I have significant experience in law enforcement, legal defense, prosecution, and now as a judge. These are some of the most concerning allegations, not only in the other case but also in the new case, which appears to be repetitive and somewhat of a concern for recidivism, as well as the lethality risk here,” Yeager said. “There is a huge risk of lethality here. I have grave concern, not only for this victim, but for our community as a whole.”
Arraignment is set for July 10.
The maximum punishment for felony stalking with domestic violence is 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. Violation of a court order with domestic violence holds a maximum punishment of up to 364 days in prison and a $5,000 fine, and second-degree criminal trespass can result in a 90-day imprisonment and a $1,000 fine if guilty.
