PORT ANGELES — Donald Allen Fellas, who is charged for threatening to kill his girlfriend, had his arraignment rescheduled for the second time in three days Monday because of an unknown medical issue.
Fellas, 58, is charged with harassment-threats to kill, possession of methamphetamine and five counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with an incident in the Joyce area in the early morning hours of Dec. 26.
Fellas’ arraignment was postponed Friday because he was being evaluated for a medical condition at Olympic Medical Center.
He appeared disheveled Monday wearing an unbuttoned jail-issued orange jumpsuit and nodded off with his head tilted forward.
“I’m unaware of what his current physical or mental status is, other than he’s been brought into the video room in a wheelchair and appears to be falling asleep during the course of the proceedings,” said defense attorney Harry Gasnick of Clallam Public Defender.
Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols suggested that the arraignment be reset.
“That would build in some additional time as necessary for Mr. Gasnick to get caught up with his client and for Mr. Fellas to recover from whatever might be occurring with him right now,” Nichols said.
Superior Court Judge Lauren Erickson reset the arraignment for 3 p.m. Thursday.
Fellas is being held in the Clallam County jail on $20,000 bail.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said Fellas ordered his girlfriend out of his truck on Joyce Access Road at about 2:29 a.m. Dec. 26. He reportedly threatened to kill her if she called law enforcement, court papers said.
Two deputies found the woman on Joyce Access Road about 1 ½ miles south of state Highway 112.
The woman told deputies that Fellas had been physically and verbally abusive to her and that she and Fellas began to argue while taking a Christmas drive, according to the affidavit for probable cause.
The woman provided a recording of the argument to law enforcement.
“Call the cops and I will strangle ya ‘till you’re dead I will!” Fellas was alleged to have said.
“I’ll beat you to (expletive) death you call the (expletive) cops on me you (expletive expletive).”
Fellas was arrested during a traffic stop in Port Angeles on Dec. 28.
Deputies obtained a search warrant and seized two pistols and three rifles from Fellas’ truck and RV.
Fellas is a convicted felon who was not allowed to carry firearms, deputies said.
Corrections deputies found two grams of suspected methamphetamine in Fellas’ wallet when he was being booked into jail, according to the arrest narrative.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
