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A Chehalis man faces criminal charges after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend during an altercation at the woman’s family residence.
Thomas J. Arias Set, 20, is charged with one count each of second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief, all considered domestic violence offenses. He faces an additional count of interfering with domestic violence reporting.
Second-degree assault is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The other charges are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
Arias Set made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Monday following his arrest on June 12.
Judge Joely Yeager set the defendant’s bail at $100,000 cash or bond, in agreement with the state’s request, and granted a no-contact order on behalf of the alleged victim.
Yeager called the allegations “incredibly concerning.”
While making his bail request, Chief Deputy Prosecutor William Halstead noted the “lethal form of assault” that had allegedly occurred.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller argued for no more than $25,000 in bail, citing Arias Set’s lack of assault-like or felony history. Tiller said Arias Set had a “lot of support” in the courtroom from family and friends.
Tiller indicated the defendant believed he was “actually the victim in this matter.”
According to a probable cause affidavit, Arias Set allegedly went to the victim’s family residence to speak to the victim following an argument the night before.
The victim’s stepfather initially confronted Arias Set and told him to leave. After the stepfather left for work, the defendant returned and spoke with the victim.
When they entered his car to “retrieve her vape and her cell phone,” the defendant “insisted she leave with him,” according to the affidavit.
The victim reported that, once she exited the vehicle and entered her home, Arias Set banged on the front door. He then “pushed her backwards into the house” after she opened the door.
The victim told police she had tried to call 911 but “her phone did not work due to it being damaged previously by Arias-Set,” according to the affidavit.
During an ensuing struggle, Arias Set allegedly “placed one hand around or on her neck” and slapped the victim’s face, and then “covered her mouth and nose simultaneously,” according to the victim’s account, as detailed in the affidavit.
The victim described the defendant as being intoxicated.
“At one point, Arias-Set took one of her heirloom stuffed animals that her father had given her prior to passing away and put it on the range top and turned on the burner,” the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, the victim’s mother returned home to find it “trashed.” She later found her daughter at Arias Set’s home.
The mother and daughter reported the alleged assault to Centralia police, who noted facial injuries on the victim consistent with her account.
Police then contacted the defendant, who had a scratch by his eye. The scratch reportedly corroborated the victim’s account, who described scratching Arias Set in self-defense.
The defendant allegedly admitted to “placing his hands on (the victim’s) neck area in an attempt to have her ‘listen’ and ‘stop talking,’” according to the affidavit.
Arias Set is scheduled for an arraignment on Thursday.
