A Chehalis man is accused of violating a no-contact order by calling the protected individual 52 times while incarcerated at the Lewis County Jail.
Eric M. Messal, 34, was booked into jail on May 6 and later charged with one count of escape from community custody. A judge set bail at $25,000 cash or bond. That case is pending trial.
Messal awaits trial in another case for residential burglary and protection order violation stemming from a 2024 incident. Messal had originally entered Lewis County Drug Court as part of the resolution of that case. His participation was terminated on May 18.
According to court documents, Messal has multiple convictions for escape from community custody in 2025, as well as a 2024 conviction for residential burglary, among other offenses.
Messal made a preliminary appearance for the new case in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday. He’s charged with five counts of protection order violation, each punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello noted that Messal was already being held without bail as part of his Drug Court sanctions, and was serving time for a Department of Corrections (DOC) violation. Masiello asked for a bail amount of $10,000 cash or bond.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller agreed with the recommendation, and Judge J. Andrew Toynbee granted the state’s request.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the alleged order violations on June 20 after a DOC officer reported that Messal was making phone calls to the protected individual while at the Lewis County Jail.
A deputy spoke with Messal on June 22. Messal allegedly admitted to making the calls.
“A check of the phone calls showed that Messal made 52 phone calls to (the protected individual) in just over one month between May and June of 2026,” the affidavit said.
Messal is scheduled for an arraignment on July 2.
