Jessie Stensland reports from Island County Superior Court for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
The former chairperson of the Island County Republican Party is now facing a felony charge in connection with his refusal to wear a mask in the county Elections Office last fall, according to court documents.
Prosecutors charged 57-year-old Tim Hazelo, a North Whidbey resident, in Island County Superior Court Feb. 6 with unauthorized access to a voting center, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass in the first degree.
The unauthorized access charge is a felony, disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor and criminal trespass in the first degree in a gross misdemeanor. Under the standard sentencing range, Hazelo could face up to a year in jail if convicted of the charges against him.
Hazelo was originally charged in district court with a single count of disorderly conduct. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said the district court case was dismissed when the superior court case was filed.
Banks said he escalated the charges to include a felony count after negotiations with Hazelo and his attorney did not result in an agreement.
Hazelo previously accused Banks of pursuing the case for political reasons. Banks previously ran as a Democrat but now filed as having “no party preference.” Banks denies any political-related bias and has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring the integrity of elections.
As Banks pointed out, it is not uncommon for prosecutors in the state to charge people suspected of committing first-time, less-serious felonies with misdemeanors in district court in an attempt to resolve a case quickly. The prosecutor often gives a defendant an expedited offer with a limited time to make a decision; if negotiations fail, the case can be re-filed as a felony, according to the filing standards document from the King County prosecutor’s office.
Hazelo could not be immediately reached for comment. Earlier this year, he said he will fight the criminal charge and continue to pursue the civil case.
“It has nothing to do with masks. That was just the catalyst,” he said earlier this year. “The question is whether a low-level politician can make up arbitrary rules and impose them on the public.”
