Winlock man Max J. Hancock, 49, faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly struck his wife in the face and pushed her out of a moving car the morning of July 1.
When a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy first responded to the scene, the deputy reportedly observed redness to the area of the woman’s face where she said she had been hit.
“She later clarified that the vehicle was still moving when Max shoved her out of the vehicle with her dog,” court documents stated.
According to the documents, Hancock’s wife is “partially disabled due to an earlier vehicular assault and has difficulties moving and standing without her wheelchair.”
Officers later located Hancock’s car, which allegedly contained his wife’s wheelchair, a purse and other belongings. At the time, they did not locate Hancock.
After executing a search warrant, officers also found drug paraphernalia that allegedly tested positive for methamphetamines, along with mail addressed to Hancock.
In August, Hancock was officially charged with second-degree criminal mistreatment, second-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree assault, and reckless endangerment, domestic violence. The second-degree felony charges are each punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Hancock made a preliminary appearance Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Lewis County Superior Court.
Though he has no felony convictions in Washington, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson indicated that Hancock may have some felony history in Kansas.
Judge Paul Strophy set Hancock’s bail at $25,000 cash or bond and scheduled an arraignment for Oct. 9. The judge also entered a domestic violence protection order on behalf of the victim, along with an order for Hancock to surrender any firearms.
A subsequent arraignment and trial setting was scheduled for Oct. 23. Hancock will look to retain counsel.
