A Chehalis man faces three felonies and well over a dozen protection order violations after his arrest Wednesday following an alleged domestic violence assault.
Robert M.E. Donyes, 41, is charged with felony counts of first-degree burglary, fourth-degree domestic violence assault and a protection order violation with two prior convictions. He faces a maximum of life in prison for the burglary charge.
Donyes is also charged with interfering with domestic violence reporting, resisting arrest and 17 protection order violations stemming from alleged illegal contact he made with the victim while incarcerated.
Donyes made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor William Halstead requested a bail of $250,000 cash or bond, based on the defendant’s warrant history and prior convictions for bail jumping and assault.
Halstead said the victim appears to have been the victim in six prior cases involving Donyes, and added that Donyes “clearly will not follow” any protection order the court puts in place.
“So he’s a threat, not only to the community at large, but the victim in particular,” Halstead said. “He’s also a threat not to appear in court.”
The prosecutor requested a pretrial no-contact order on behalf of the victim.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said Donyes did not have the means to post bail and was asking for consideration of an unsecured bond. Tiller requested a bail of no more than $25,000, based on Donyes’ financial situation, and acknowledged the “standard practice” regarding a no-contact order.
“She wanted me there,” Donyes said.
In consideration of Donyes’ indigency status, Judge Paul Strophy set bail at $100,000 cash or bond.
“But most importantly, I feel you are a risk to community safety to commit violent offenses,” Strophy said, citing the defendant’s “extensive assault history and the nature of these allegations.”
Strophy added that Donyes posed a future risk of interfering with the administration of justice by contacting the victim and attempting to influence her to not cooperate or testify against him.
The judge granted the state’s request for the no-contact order, as well as an order for the defendant to surrender any firearms or dangerous weapons within his possession.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday responded to a report of a woman “being held against her will” by Donyes.
Law enforcement arrived at the home and were allowed inside by Donyes. Donyes allegedly said the victim was not inside the home.
According to the affidavit, officers found her “hiding in the shower” with a “swollen and bruised right eye.”
The woman reported that she and Donyes had been arguing when a friend came over to check on them.
According to the affidavit, as the woman “tried to defuse the situation” with Donyes and the friend, the defendant allegedly put his hands on the woman and threw her “into the pantry.”
As the victim tried to get out of the pantry, she “elbowed the defendant.” Donyes allegedly responded by punching her “in the face.”
According to the affidavit, Donyes allegedly took the victim’s keys and phone “so she could not leave or call for help.”
Donyes allegedly admitted to taking her keys the day before.
Law enforcement later learned that Donyes had allegedly spoken to the victim numerous times via phone and video calls while he was incarcerated and prohibited from contacting her.
He was reportedly released from custody on July 1.
Donyes is scheduled for an arraignment on Aug. 6.
