A Randle man accused of kidnapping and threatening to kill the child of a woman who wanted to break up with him in June is now facing felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court.
The child’s mother contacted law enforcement on June 12 to report Zachary Hall, 39, had taken the child from a relative’s Packwood residence without permission.
Hall was reportedly “upset that (the child’s mother) wanted to end their relationship” and allegedly told the woman via text “he was going to drive off a cliff with her child in the car if she did not meet with him.”
Law enforcement officers attempted to locate Hall “at numerous locations, but (were) unsuccessful,” according to court documents. When a relative of Hall’s eventually made contact with him, he reportedly said “he was upset that (the child’s mother) called the police, asked if police were still there and indicated he had someone watching her house.”
The child’s mother, Hall’s relative and law enforcement texted with Hall during the search and asked him to return the child. Eventually, law enforcement saw Hall drive by the woman’s residence and a short while later, Hall’s relative arrived at the woman’s house with the child.
The relative reportedly refused to provide information on Hall’s location “and would only say that he did not agree with what he had done,” according to court documents.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office filed second-degree kidnapping and harassment, threat to kill charges against Hall in July and sent Hall a court summons for an Aug. 2 hearing in Lewis County Superior Court, which he was present for.
Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys agreed for Hall to remain out of custody on $20,000 unsecured bail, though Prosecuting Attorney Paul Masiello requested a court-ordered no-contact order protecting the child and Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller asked that Hall be allowed to maintain contact with the child’s mother.
“She does not wish to have the case prosecuted,” said Tiller during Hall’s hearing on Tuesday.
Masiello opposed the request, saying, “I think this (situation) is ripe for some kind of undue influence.”
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee granted Masiello’s request for a protection order and denied Tiller’s request for contact between Hall and the child’s mother.
Hall’s next court appearance is an arraignment hearing scheduled for Aug. 11.
