A Chehalis man faces possible prison time after he allegedly vandalized a 2026 Subaru Forester with a baseball bat.
According to Deputy Prosecutor Brandi Archer, Centralia police suspect the 26-year-old of committing a number of other similar property offenses in the area.
Joseph D. Criss was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Tuesday. He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court the next day, charged with one count of second-degree malicious mischief.
The Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Archer called the alleged offenses “unrelated” and “unprovoked.” She asked for a bail of $20,000 cash or bond with release conditions to include no contact with victims or witnesses.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said Criss did not have the money to post and requested an unsecured bond. She noted Criss’ lack of felony history, convictions or failures to appear in court.
Responding to Archer’s allegation of other property crimes, Tiller emphasized that Criss had only been charged with one crime.
Judge Paul Strophy said he wasn’t concerned with Criss failing to return to court, but noted the violence involved in the alleged property crime. He settled at $5,000 cash or bond.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police responded to a malicious mischief complaint in the 1300 block of Lum Road on Tuesday and spoke to a witness who said he’d returned to the Forester to find its windshield shattered and its side mirrors broken off. Both tail lights were also damaged. The witness said the SUV belonged to his father-in-law.
Police estimated the damage exceeded $750.
An officer reviewed security footage of a church parking lot located across the street. He saw a suspect park and exit his vehicle at about 2 a.m. and walk in the direction of the Subaru.
The officer recognized the suspect as Criss. He showed the footage to Criss’ brother, who reportedly confirmed it was Criss.
Another officer discovered Criss had been trespassed from Fort Borst Park minutes before parking in the church lot. The report noted he was driving a Hyundai. Flock cameras located the Hyundai in between Fort Borst Park and Lum Road shortly thereafter.
That evening, police located the Hyundai and spoke to Criss, who allegedly admitted to parking at the church.
According to a Centralia Police Department press log, Criss admitted to damaging the Subaru “for no apparent reason.”
When asked what he used to damage the SUV, Criss allegedly said he used a baseball bat. Police took the bat from the Hyundai.
Criss was scheduled for an arraignment on Thursday.
