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“Your honor, it’s my land and I paid for it in cash.”
Those were the seemingly irrelevant words of a 36-year-old Centralia man spoken during the final moments of his preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
James D. Sigman was quickly silenced by Judge Paul Strophy, who had already set Sigman’s bail at $10,000 cash or bond.
Sigman faces 12 counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, each punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
According to court documents, it all started with a report from Sigman’s stepchild claiming that Sigman “would routinely get intoxicated while using firearms.”
The report indicated that the child felt unsafe in these moments.
A Child Protective Services (CPS) employee made the initial trip to Sigman’s home, and was reportedly allowed into the house by Sigman’s wife.
“During the walkthrough the CPS employee observed six rifles against a wall in the house not locked up,” court documents stated. “While conducting the walkthrough, James Sigman walked into the residence and told the CPS employee he did not like the guns to be locked up.”
The wife allegedly told the CPS employee that Sigman “routinely shoots the firearms.”
The problem? Sigman had been prohibited from possessing firearms ever since he was convicted for bail jumping in 2014 in Thurston County.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was informed of the situation by CPS and obtained a search warrant. On Oct. 27, they executed that warrant, reportedly discovering the aforementioned rifles, along with a pink 9 mm Hi-Point pistol, an AK-47 assault rifle, AR-15 rifle, two shotguns and other firearms.
All told, 12 firearms were found. Four of those were allegedly found in a separate trailer on the property. The man who lived in the trailer reportedly told deputies that Sigman had asked him to hold onto the firearms — possibly in anticipation of the deputies’ arrival.
During the preliminary hearing, Chief Deputy Prosecutor William Halstead acknowledged Sigman’s dated felony history, but alluded to past alcohol-related offenses and highlighted the current allegations that Sigman was becoming intoxicated around firearms.
He added that Sigman not only posed a potential threat to society but also to his family, and requested a bail of $10,000 cash or surety, along with conditions prohibiting Sigman from consuming alcohol.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller argued for $10,000 unsecured, also noting that Sigman’s felony history was “quite dated.” She added that Sigman’s spouse and family members were present in the courtroom, and said there were no firearms currently in the home.
Before making his ruling, Judge Strophy cited concerns for community safety.
“We’re talking about 12 different counts,” Strophy said, before noting the allegation that Sigman’s neighbor was asked to hold some firearms just before law enforcement showed up — which gave the judge concern that Sigman wouldn’t follow court orders.
The judge ultimately granted the state’s request for $10,000 cash or bond, and ordered Sigman not to consume any alcohol or controlled substances, not to possess firearms and not to have contact with any witnesses in the case — which include his wife and stepchild.
Any violations of this order could result in a contempt of court, Strophy said.
An arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 30. Sigman will look to retain private counsel.
