State of Washington v. William H. Manes

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMay 15, 2025
Docket40021-2
StatusUnpublished

This text of State of Washington v. William H. Manes (State of Washington v. William H. Manes) 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. William H. Manes, (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).

Opinion

FILED MAY 15, 2025 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) ) No. 40021-2-III Respondent, ) ) v. ) ) WILLIAM H. MANES, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) Appellant. )

COONEY, J. — At the conclusion of a stipulated facts trial, Williams Manes was

convicted of assault in the second degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first

degree. Mr. Manes appeals, arguing: (1) he was deprived of his right to trial; (2) he was

misinformed about his rights; (3) the trial court’s findings of fact are insufficient to

establish guilt; (4) his rule-based and constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated;

and (5) the evidence was insufficient to prove he was the individual who committed the

crimes. In a statement of additional grounds for review (SAG), Mr. Manes raises two

issues related to his competency evaluation. No. 40021-2-III State v. Manes

As it relates to the charge of assault in the second degree, we agree that the trial

court’s findings of fact do not support its conclusions of law, and insufficient evidence

was presented to support a finding of guilt. We remand for the trial court to enter an

acquittal on the assault in the second degree charge and supplement its findings of fact

related to the unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree charge.

BACKGROUND

During the evening hours of September 8, 2022, law enforcement was contacted

by an individual who observed Mr. Manes walking with a rifle on West Jumpoff Road in

Stevens County, Washington. The reporter claimed Mr. Manes told him there was a

body in Jump Off Joe Lake, that he could smell the body, and that he was going to make

the suspect confess to killing someone.

Tia Nash called law enforcement to report similar observations. Ms. Nash had

found a stray dog and drove past Mr. Manes as she attempted to locate the dog’s owner.

Ms. Nash inquired of Mr. Manes whether the dog belonged to him. Mr. Manes

responded by screaming at Ms. Nash to call the sheriff. When Ms. Nash informed Mr.

Manes that she did not have a phone, Mr. Manes pointed his rifle at her. Ms. Nash was

very scared but convinced Mr. Manes to put the gun down. Ms. Nash departed and

reported the incident to law enforcement.

Mr. Manes then called law enforcement, “yelling about a body in the lake.”

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 4. Mr. Manes claimed his canine was a cadaver dog and that it

2 No. 40021-2-III State v. Manes

had jumped into the lake. He reported that the lake water smelled and tasted weird. Mr.

Manes admitted to having a squirt gun loaded with habanero sauce when asked about a

firearm.

Deputy J. Stearns responded to the calls, located Mr. Manes, ordered him to the

ground, and placed him in handcuffs. Mr. Manes repeated his claims that there was a

body in the lake and that the water tasted bad to Deputy Stearns. Mr. Manes further

asserted that there was a cult in the area. Deputy Stearns informed Mr. Manes that

someone had reported that he had pointed a firearm at them, and Mr. Manes responded

that, “his dog was going up to them and he is not trained to do that.” CP at 4. Mr. Manes

eventually revealed the location of the firearm that resulted in the deputies locating a rifle

“loaded with .22 round and a 410 shell as it fires both.” CP at 4.

Deputy Stearns learned that Mr. Manes was a convicted felon and placed him

under arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm. Mr. Manes confessed to leaving a crate

of ammunition on the front porch of a church. Deputy Stearns located a “newspaper box”

on the front steps of the church that contained numerous beers cans with screw-top lids

that Mr. Manes claimed were filled with lake water and empty shell casings. Mr. Manes

was then booked into jail.

On September 14, 2022, Mr. Manes with charged with assault in the second

degree and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree. The trial court ordered

Mr. Manes to undergo a competency evaluation prior to his arraignment. A competency

3 No. 40021-2-III State v. Manes

evaluation, dated December 9, 2022, found Mr. Manes was not competent to stand trial.

A subsequent competency evaluation, dated April 17, 2023, found Mr. Manes “possessed

the requisite knowledge and capabilities to proceed in this case.” CP at 60. After a series

of bench warrants, speedy trial waivers, and motions for continuances, Mr. Manes was

brought to trial on October 17, 2023.

Mr. Manes waived his right to a jury before trial commenced. With advice from

his attorney, Mr. Manes signed a “Statement of Defendant on Submittal or Stipulation of

Facts.” CP at 66. The statement included:

I understand that, by this process, I am giving up . . . the right to hear and question witnesses, the right to call witnesses in my own behalf, and the right to testify or not to testify.

CP at 66. Mr. Manes agreed to “Stipulated Facts for Purposes of Stipulated Facts Bench

Trial.” CP at 67. In part, the stipulation provided:

1. The court may consider all information in the court file for this matter.

2. On or about September 8, 2022, the defendant assaulted Tia Marie Nash, a human being, with a deadly weapon; specifically, a rifle. Contrary to RCW 9A.36.021 (1)(c).

....

4. There is sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of assaulting Ms. Nash with a deadly weapon, while armed with a firearm, as defined in RCW 9A.36.021(1)(c), and RCW 25 9.41.010, and RCW 9.94A.533(3), as charged in count 1 of the Information.

5. On or about September 8, 2022, the defendant, after previously having been convicted or having been found not guilty by reason of insanity in this State or elsewhere of a serious offense as defined in RCW chapter 9.41, did

4 No. 40021-2-III State v. Manes

unlawfully own or have in his possession or control, a firearm; to wit, a rifle. Contrary to RCW 9.41.040(1)(a)(b).

6. There is sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First degree as defined in RCW 9.41.040(1)(a)(b), as charged in count 2 of the Information.

CP at 67-68.

Mr. Manes’ attorney informed the court that she believed Mr. Manes would be

waiving “quite a few rights,” and the basis for a stipulated facts trial was Mr. Manes’

desire to preserve his right to appeal his alleged substantive due process claim arising

from a competency evaluation being ordered prior to arraignment. Rep. of Proc. (RP) at

14, 17. Mr. Manes stated to the court, “I don’t have an argument with the prosecutor on

what happened, it’s just why it happened. I want to try to explain that.” RP at 23. The

court informed Mr. Manes, “You can produce witnesses. You can—you know you can

present your case if you want.” RP at 23. Mr. Manes replied, “The only witness I will

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