A Centralia man faces four criminal charges in Lewis County Superior Court after he was restrained by a Chehalis resident and arrested while in possession of a stolen mountain bike, suspected narcotics and a stolen key for an off-road vehicle on Sept. 30.
Austin Wayne Jensen, 31, made his initial appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday via video feed from the Lewis County Jail.
Jensen’s most serious charge is second-degree possession of stolen property, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. He also faces three gross misdemeanor charges, including third-degree theft, third-degree possession of stolen property and knowingly possessing a controlled substance. Each gross misdemeanor comes with a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail or a $5,000 fine.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a call on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from a Chehalis resident reporting an attempted theft on Spooner Road.
The caller said a suspect in possession of a stolen key to a Can-Am off-road vehicle was being restrained on the ground by a neighbor, according to court documents.
The deputy arrived and saw that the suspect who was being restrained was wearing a jacket that had been reported stolen on Sept. 29. The deputy identified the suspect as Jensen.
While searching Jensen, the deputy found a baggie with a white substance believed to be methamphetamine and the key to the stolen Can-Am key.
Jensen was also in possession of a mountain bike that was determined to have been stolen from a neighbor in the area.
Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Paul Masiello requested $20,000 bail for Jensen during the preliminary hearing on Wednesday, citing his criminal history.
According to court documents, Jensen has had 44 warrants issued for his arrest and has a number or prior felony convictions dating back to 2013, including retail theft with special circumstances in the third degree in 2025, possession of a stolen vehicle in 2024 and theft in the second degree in 2024.
Masiello added that he believes that Jensen poses a risk for failure to appear in court if released from jail. Jensen is currently on probation in Pierce County.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller represented Jensen during the hearing and asked for Jensen’s immediate release from the Lewis County Jail.
Pro Tem Commissioner Kathryn Eyraud, who filled in as the presiding judge Wednesday, ultimately decided to follow the recommendations from the prosecutor’s office. Eyraud set Jensen’s bail amount at $20,000
“There are several guilty convictions in his past. That does make it a concern if he's going to appear going forward without posting any bail in this matter,” Eyraud said.
