PORT TOWNSEND — A trial has been set for a man charged with first-degree attempted arson and felony harassment, and he could face additional assault charges this week.
Christopher Owen Reeves, 32, appeared in Jefferson County Superior Court by video monitor Friday for his initial arraignment, and defense attorney Noah Harrison entered not guilty pleas on his behalf.
Reeves was ordered to surrender all weapons and to have no contact with the alleged victim.
Judge Keith Harper set a three-day trial for Nov. 4-6 and ordered that bail remain at $50,500. Reeves remained in jail Saturday.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Ashcraft said his office is considering adding second-degree assault charges this week after receiving information that Reeves allegedly struck the victim with a number of weapons.
Ashcraft also said Friday that Reeves has attempted to suffocate the victim.
The charges stem from an alleged domestic altercation that occurred Sept. 15 in the 700 block of Tyler Street in Port Townsend. Police responded just after 7 a.m. and found a car parked on the street with extensive damage to the driver’s side fender and doors, according to court documents.
The victim reported Reeves had been drinking and threw furniture and a knife around the house, documents stated.
The papers also stated the victim pointed police to a burned section on a broken end table.
Reeves had a preliminary blood-alcohol content level of 0.191 — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 — when he was arrested, and he allegedly violated a pre-arraignment domestic violence no-contact order when he called the victim from the booking room at the Jefferson County Jail later that morning, court documents stated.
Harrison argued Friday that bail should be set significantly lower, and he questioned the arson allegation, saying Reeves used a lighter on an end table without accelerant.
Ashcraft said Reeves has a pattern of criminal behavior that starts with drinking and leads to him getting out of control with eventual contact from law enforcement.
“He was terrible on probation [previously],” Ashcraft said. “He submitted watered-down [urine analysis] or failed UAs. He didn’t follow court orders then, and I don’t think there’s any reason to believe it would be any different.”
Court documents said the victim was afraid for her life because Reeves “told her he was going to take her out to the coast and make her disappear.”
The responding officer removed a crossbow and a semi-automatic pistol from the residence, and the woman provided a vintage sword, according to court documents.
The woman told police she kept a hammer next to her side of the bed to protect herself.
Harrison argued for an ankle bracelet and to monitor Reeves for alcohol consumption, but Harper didn’t amend his conditions of release.
“Based on everything I’ve heard, I think $50,000 is appropriate,” Harper said, turning to face Reeves on the monitor. “You appear to be a high risk to comply with court orders, and you pose a high risk to the community.”
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
