A Mossyrock teen faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly stole his sister’s car, broke through a fence and crashed into a house.
The suspect’s mother, a local EMT, responded to the scene.
Joseph J. Edgington, 18, is charged with single felony counts of theft of a motor vehicle, first-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree assault.
Edgington faces up to 10 years in prison for the vehicle theft charge. First-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree assault are punishable by up to five years.
Edgington is also charged with driving while under the influence and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant, both gross misdemeanors.
He made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday.
Due to his complete lack of criminal history, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello requested that Edgington be released on his own recognizance.
“None of these offenses are violent offenses. He has no history of violent offenses,” Masiello said.
Masiello added that, though it was tempting to request bail, he didn’t think the defendant met the requirements according to court rules.
“However, the actions of this case do cause the state concern for the safety of the community,” Masiello said.
The prosecutor asked the court to require that Edgington be hooked up to a secure continuous remote alcohol monitoring (SCRAM) device as part of his release conditions.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller agreed with the state’s request for a personal recognizance release, but asked the court not to impose an additional SCRAM requirement.
“I think the standard requirement of no alcohol, no drug, is sufficient and should allay any concerns,” Tiller said.
Tiller added that the defendant is a senior in high school and lives with his parents. The sister, Tiller said, is home from college.
“And so, with that, I’m asking for a modification of the conditions to allow that he be allowed to remain at home and, of course, to keep attending school, but just not to discuss the case with family, unless his lawyer is present,” Tiller said.
Judge Paul Strophy agreed to release Edgington on his own recognizance. Stophy said Edgington was allowed to remain at home, so long as he does not discuss the case.
The judge ordered the defendant to obtain an alcohol monitoring device, and bring proof of that device to his arraignment on May 21.
As part of his release conditions, Edgington is not allowed to consume alcohol or operate a vehicle without a valid license or insurance.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a Lewis County sheriff’s deputy received a report on May 17 of a vehicle speeding through Mossyrock and “running stop signs with no lights on.”
At the time, around 5:10 a.m., the roads were still dark and foggy.
The deputy received another report not long after. The same vehicle “had gone off the road, went through a fence, and struck a house,” according to the affidavit.
The suspect had fled.
The deputy arrived at the home and learned the suspect’s mother was also there — working the scene. The mother, an EMT, was one of the first responders with Lewis County Fire District 3.
The suspect had allegedly taken his sister’s vehicle. The mother told the deputy that Edgington did not have a driver’s license and did not have permission to drive his sister’s vehicle.
A second deputy located Edgington in Mossyrock.
“Joseph was covered in dirt and displayed signs consistent with being in a collision,” the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, Edgington allegedly provided a false identity and later became “increasingly agitated,” at one point making "unwanted physical contact" with the deputy’s chest.
A state trooper noted the alleged odor of alcohol on Edgington’s breath, his slurred speech and swaying movements.
“When asked how much he had to drink, Joseph replied ‘enough,’” the affidavit alleged.
Edgington later consented to breath samples, both allegedly confirming alcohol consumption.
The responding deputy spoke with the sister at the family home, who reportedly said she had “left the keys in the vehicle last night due to being tired,” the affidavit said.
