Two Charged in Lewis County With Entering Home, Starting Fight With Residents

Two people were charged with first-degree burglary Monday in Lewis County Superior Court after authorities say they entered a house without permission and then assaulted two people.

Melissa R. Smathers, 38, of Mossyrock was charged with first-degree burglary and fourth-degree assault. Roy L. Hall, 40, of Randle was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree assault.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Friday, deputies with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a house in the 2200 block of U.S. Highway 12. There, a couple told them the two had been cooking dinner when a vehicle pulled to the house.

The couple were familiar with Smathers and Hall, and one of the victims has a child in common with Smathers. The suspects were dropping the child off at the house, the victims told deputies.

After the child came in the house, Smathers and Hall entered, too, but were told not to come inside and instead to leave, according to court documents.

Smathers allegedly started a verbal argument with the woman in the house, and then pulled her hair. After the altercation became physical, it moved outside. The male victim tried to break up the fight, court documents indicate, and Hall allegedly struck him in the face with a piece of rebar.

Deputies said they noted a red mark and cut on the man’s face where he said the rebar had hit him.

During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Monday afternoon, Hall was placed on $50,000 bail — less than the $75,000 requested by Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello. Masiello, when addressing Commissioner Tracy Mitchell, outlined Hall’s criminal history of multiple felonies.

Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said that Hall’s history is dated — eight yeas old at the most recent.

Tiller said that Hall denies ever entering the house or being armed with anything.

Smathers is being held on $25,000 bail — the amount requested by Masiello, who said she has a less extensive criminal history than Hall.

Tiller said that Smathers also denies the charges against her, saying that she was attacked first.