News brief: Possible insanity plea in trooper assault case

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Centralia man accused of assaulting a trooper alongside the freeway last month was finally arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Don K. Gonzales, 23, was suffering from some type of mental issue when the events occurred but has gotten stabilized during his time in jail, according to his attorney.

“He’s made a remarkable recovery,” Defense attorney Ken Johnson said yesterday afternoon.

Gonzales was walking along the shoulder of Interstate 5 near Main Street in Chehalis on July 3 when Trooper Rob Moore contacted him. After Moore told him to drop a knife, Gonzales allegedly threw a semi truck lug nut at the trooper’s face, breaking his nose and his glasses.

He is charged second-degree assault, plus three counts of third-degree assault regarding the wrestling match in which three passersby jumped in to help the trooper detain him.

Gonzales has been locked up on a no-bail hold, but yesterday Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey set bail at $250,000. A trial date was scheduled for the week of October 8.

Johnson says there is the potential of an insanity plea.

“There’s nothing that went on that was at all logical,” Johnson said of the events of July 3.
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For background, read:

• “View from the ground: Helping trooper take down fighting suspect” from Sunday July 15, 2012, here

• “Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup” from Thursday July 5, 2012, here

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4 Responses to “News brief: Possible insanity plea in trooper assault case”

  1. sunshinegirl says:

    I tell ya when I blow I will make sure I’m absolutely insane cause this is the place to get away with it !! Oh yeah , I forgot you don’t have to be insane in Lewis Co. You can get away with murder and be sane. It happens all the time here. There’s the self defense claim , there’s the oh they did that to themselves claim , that one works real good here, ya’ll forget the insanity plea, there is also the , I just forgot to take my meds claim, that too works great here !!! O.k. nevermind .

  2. LC CITIZEN says:

    Give me a break! I’m so sick of seeing all of these insanity pleas! It’s ridiculous! Just because you choose not to control your own actions at some point does not make you insane! This guy is lucky the Trooper didn’t dump him! Too bad he didn’t! One less “insane” problem Lewis County would be dealing with for who knows how many more years to come!

  3. Free Air says:

    “He’s made a remarkable recovery,”

    Yes, not having access to drugs will have that effect on you…

  4. Yup says:

    “He’s made a remarkable recovery,” Defense attorney Ken Johnson said yesterday afternoon.

    Of course he has! Amazing the recovery one can make from insane to sane inside a jail cell. It makes it pretty easy to claim “insanity” and not be responsible for one’s actions.