Nine Green Hill School inmates are facing felony prison riot charges in Lewis County Superior Court for allegedly taking part in a fight that broke out on school grounds in Chehalis on Sept. 18.
The case marks the sixth riot at the Chehalis facility that has been charged in Lewis County Superior Court this year. The previous prison riot, charged Nov. 8-9, occurred on Sept. 12.
In the most recent case, Green Hill staff were reportedly moving two separate groups of inmates from different units when “members of the groups, as they got closer, began to fight,” according to court documents, which stated, “Staff intervened and, after a period of time, was able to restore order.”
Prosecutors and investigators did not disclose information in court documents about the motives for the fight or whether anyone was injured.
Nine of the 10 inmates identified in court documents were charged Nov. 14 with one count of prison riot, which is a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The inmates facing charges are: Jonivian Jerome Walker, 19, Isaiah Jamon Andrews, 19, Myshaun O. Coleman, 18, Curaun S. Kercheval, 18, Elijah J.J. Vaughn, 20, Amir L. Demerson, 19, Conner J. Hartwell, 18, Said M. Hussein, 20, and Jeramiah Warren Lard, 18.
Walker, Andrews, Kercheval and Vaughn had preliminary hearings scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12. Demerson, Hartwell, Lard and Hussein have preliminary hearings scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Coleman had his preliminary hearing on Nov. 30 and has pleaded not guilty. Trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 12.
At least two incidents charged in Lewis County Superior Court this year have been tied to gang activity within the facility, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
Previously, a group of four inmates allegedly beat up another inmate at the facility while medications were being dispensed on April 26. A group of four inmates allegedly beat up another inmate in a gang-related attack inside the facility on May 12. A group of four inmates allegedly attacked two other inmates and a staff member at the facility on either June 14 or Aug. 2. A group of six inmates allegedly participated in a “standoff” with facility staff in August. A group of nine inmates allegedly got into a fight while being moved inside the facility on Sept. 12.
