A Centralia man previously convicted of vehicular homicide faces a felony DUI charge following a single-vehicle collision on Little Hanaford Road last Saturday.
Richard A. Gardner, 58, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday. A judge set bail at $50,000 cash or bond.
Gardner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the Class B offense.
As part of his release conditions, Gardner is prohibited from consuming alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances and cannot operate a vehicle without a license or insurance.
Prosecutors indicated that results from a blood draw were still pending, but noted prior convictions for DUI and vehicular homicide.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Gardner has prior felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance in 2014, reckless driving in 2012, possession with intent to deliver in 2006, and vehicular homicide in 1991, among other felony and misdemeanor offenses, including DUI.
The affidavit says a Lewis County sheriff’s deputy arrived at the reported collision on April 25 to find Gardner asleep inside his vehicle.
A caller previously reported that a man had requested assistance with towing his vehicle.
“The male reportedly told her that he was not under the influence and had fallen asleep,” the affidavit says.
As he got closer, the deputy noted the man’s “twitching movements” indicating drug usage.
After being woken up, Gardner allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine and marijuana “approximately five hours prior to contact” with the deputy, according to the affidavit.
He allegedly refused a field sobriety test, but performed a preliminary breath test that read .000.
The deputy was not surprised by the reading and arrested the suspect. He searched Gardner and allegedly found a container with a “black tar-like substance” suspected to be THC hash oil.
According to the affidavit, Gardner agreed to a vehicle search, which allegedly yielded a similar container, a marijuana pipe and Narcan containers.
A phlebotomist drew two vials of Gardner’s blood at Providence Centralia Hospital.
Gardner was booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 1:40 a.m. April 26.
