State Of Washington, V. Leldon Roy Ovechka

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMarch 24, 2026
Docket59085-9
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington, V. Leldon Roy Ovechka (State Of Washington, V. Leldon Roy Ovechka) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Of Washington, V. Leldon Roy Ovechka, (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

March 24, 2026

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 59085-9-II

Respondent,

v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION LELDON ROY OVECHKA,

Appellant.

VELJACIC, A.C.J. — Leldon R. Ovechka was charged with numerous offenses committed

over the course of several months. A jury ultimately found him guilty of four counts of attempted

murder in the first degree, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree,

stalking, two counts of assault in the second degree, attempted residential burglary, intimidating a

witness, three counts of felony harassment, assault in the fourth degree, four counts of violation of

a no-contact order, and obstructing a law enforcement officer. On appeal, Ovechka argues there

was insufficient evidence to support his four attempted murder in the first degree convictions. He

further argues that the trial court erred when it denied Ovechka’s motion to suppress texts he sent

to a crisis negotiator before Ovechka was advised of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.

436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966). We affirm Ovechka’s convictions.

FACTS

Ovechka and Jeanne Polum met in 2017. The two moved in together later that year. 59085-9-II

I. MARCH 2021 INCIDENTS

On March 8, 2021, Polum called the police to report that Ovechka pointed a gun at her,

threatened to kill her, and assaulted her. Polum reported that she and Ovechka had been fighting

that day, so she decided to leave the house to let Ovechka calm down. As she was leaving,

Ovechka threw two bottles of air freshener that struck her side and back. When Polum threatened

to call the police, Ovechka responded that he would “unload his whole clip” and kill her. 9 Rep.

of Proc. (RP) at 1200. Ovechka then threw a metal water bottle, hitting Polum in the arm.

Polum left the house and called the police. Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Bray

contacted Polum who appeared scared and nervous. Polum told Bray that Ovechka had pointed a

gun at her. She recalled that the gun had a red laser.

While talking with Bray, Polum received a call from Ovechka. Polum put Ovechka on

speaker and Bray heard him say that “he was ready to die” several times. 6 RP at 659. Polum left

the residence and Ovechka stayed at the home.

On March 10, police returned to Polum’s residence in a marked police vehicle and observed

Ovechka in the front yard. Police parked in the driveway and Ovechka began to move toward the

home. Police ordered Ovechka to stop, but he continued into the home and barricaded himself

inside.

Detective Sergeant Alexa Moss, a negotiator for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

team, was called out to assist with encouraging Ovechka to exit the home. Moss was able to

communicate with Ovechka via text message. She told Ovechka she wanted to talk to him and

hear his side of the story. He responded that he was sick. Moss acknowledged Ovechka was sick

but advised him that the police could not leave. She told Ovechka he was “under arrest” but she

wanted to get his side of the story. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 118. Ovechka asked if he needed a

2 59085-9-II

lawyer and Moss informed him that he “definitely [had] that right,” but they were in the process

of obtaining a warrant to search the house and he needed to exit the home. CP at 119.

Moss explained that because there were allegations of domestic violence, the police were

required to make an arrest. Ovechka asked, “What domestic violence?” CP at 120. Moss

explained the Polum alleged that he pointed a gun at her. Ovechka denied pointing a gun at Polum

and stated, “[l]ast night . . . we were all here just watching Raya and the last dragon.” CP at 121.

Moss again explained to Ovechka that Washington’s domestic violence laws are strict but that

arresting someone does not necessarily mean the person will be charged. Ovechka stated that she

was scaring him, that there were no guns, and asked her several times to call Polum. Moss told

Ovechka that “[i]t sounds like you really care about [Polum] and the girls” and asked if they all

lived there with him. CP at 128. Ovechka responded “We all live here . . . [w]ith 7 dogs.” CP at

129.

Ovechka eventually exited the home. Ovechka told the police that he did not have a gun.

After obtaining a search warrant, police searched the home and located numerous boxes of

ammunition belonging to different types of firearms and two shell casings. The police arrested

Ovechka.

Polum obtained a no-contact order on March 11, 2021, prohibiting Ovechka from having

any contact with her for five years. Polum and Ovechka reconciled and continued to live together

despite the no-contact order.

II. NOVEMBER 2021 INCIDENTS

On November 16, 2021, Polum called the police to report that she and Ovechka got into

another fight. As Polum left the home, Ovechka followed her outside. He smashed her work

vehicle’s window with a hammer. The two began exchanging numerous texts, with Ovechka

3 59085-9-II

stating, “I can no longer tolerate listening to you anymore. I won’t—I will shut you up

permanently.” 9 RP at 1229-30.

On November 17, Polum’s daughter called 911 to report that Ovechka was trying to get

into Polum’s house. The daughter stated that she had been on the phone with her mother when

she heard her mother’s voice turn to panic. Polum told her daughter that she just heard the door

handle jiggle and saw Ovechka outside the window. Police arrived but were unable to locate

Ovechka that night.

Ovechka was upset with Polum for calling the police. He stated, “You’ve got all these

sheriffs rolling around here I see . . . I promise it’s not stopping anything.” 7 RP at 935. He also

told her, “ You know I hate jail. . . . Game over for you, [Polum].” 7 RP at 935, 937.

On November 19, police were dispatched to Polum’s daughter’s elementary school for a

no-contact order violation. Polum was in her car waiting to pick up her daughter when she noticed

Ovechka in his car nearby. He texted her, “I’m going to fucking kill you if you don’t make this

right, man. You’re [leaving] me no choice. I’m not going to fucking jail, man. I’m not losing my

shit.” 10 RP at 1298. Ovechka threatened, “I’m going to fucking kill everybody if you don’t drop

the charges.” 8 RP at 1021.

On November 20, Ovechka was spotted in the parking lot of Polum’s work. Ovechka

continued to text threatening messages to Polum, including telling her, “When I see you next . . .

one to the head, and you know I’m an excellent shot.” 8 RP at 1037. Ovechka also told Polum

she needed to retract her statements to the police or he would “take it out on them first because I

keep seeing them. . . . Plus I’m pretty damn sure that they’re all snitches like you and would love

to fucking show up in court to lie and testify against me. . . . Turning myself in is definitely going

to be the last resort.” 8 RP at 1053, 1058.

4 59085-9-II

On November 21, Ovechka continued to text Polum, telling her he would “kill before [he

went] to jail.” 8 RP at 1075. Later that afternoon, Polum was leaving the grocery store and

observed Ovechka in the parking lot. Ovechka accelerated to keep up with her, and when he got

behind her, she “saw the red light thing again.” 10 RP at 1285.

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Related

Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (Supreme Court, 1966)
State v. Bradley
719 P.2d 546 (Washington Supreme Court, 1986)
State v. Bingham
719 P.2d 109 (Washington Supreme Court, 1986)
State v. Woods
821 P.2d 1235 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1991)
State v. Pirtle
904 P.2d 245 (Washington Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Garvin
207 P.3d 1266 (Washington Supreme Court, 2009)
State v. Heritage
95 P.3d 345 (Washington Supreme Court, 2004)
State v. Spotted Elk
34 P.3d 906 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2001)
State v. Scherf
429 P.3d 776 (Washington Supreme Court, 2018)
State v. Russell
330 P.3d 151 (Washington Supreme Court, 2014)
State v. Pirtle
127 Wash. 2d 628 (Washington Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Finch
975 P.2d 967 (Washington Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Roberts
14 P.3d 713 (Washington Supreme Court, 2000)
State v. Heritage
152 Wash. 2d 210 (Washington Supreme Court, 2004)
State v. Garvin
207 P.3d 1266 (Washington Supreme Court, 2009)
State v. Vasquez
309 P.3d 318 (Washington Supreme Court, 2013)
State v. Larson
365 P.3d 740 (Washington Supreme Court, 2015)
State v. Farnsworth
374 P.3d 1152 (Washington Supreme Court, 2016)
State v. Trey M.
383 P.3d 474 (Washington Supreme Court, 2016)
State v. Spotted Elk
34 P.3d 906 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2001)

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