Sequim man charged with assaulting corrections deputy

Published 1:30 am Sunday, January 7, 2018

PORT ANGELES — A 37-year-old Sequim man was forcibly removed from a courtroom last week after being sentenced to 210 days in jail for assaulting the mother of his child, the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.

John Frederick Morris was charged Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court with custodial assault for an alleged attack on Corrections Deputy Gary Gort on Wednesday.

Deputy Jeffrey Waterhouse said Morris elbowed Gort in the chest multiple times and kicked the lawman’s legs after being sentenced for fourth-degree assault with domestic violence in Clallam County District Court.

Morris was handcuffed after yelling at Judge Pro Tem David Neupert at the sentencing hearing, Waterhouse said.

The hearing and ensuing attack were captured on video, Waterhouse said.

“Because Morris became violent, Corrections Deputy Gort wrestled Morris to the ground and called the CCCF (Clallam County Corrections Facility) for backup,” Waterhouse wrote in the affidavit for probable cause.

“Corrections deputies from the jail responded and Morris was taken to the CCCF without further incident.”

During the scuffle, Gort sustained a small cut to his right hand and the left pocket of his shirt was ripped, Waterhouse said.

Morris was booked for investigation of custodial assault shortly after the alleged attack in the courtroom.

“Morris cussed at me and told me that he didn’t want to speak with me, said he had the right to remain silent and wanted an attorney,” Waterhouse said.

Sequim attorney Larry Freedman was appointed to Morris’s new case because the Clallam Public Defender had represented Morris on the domestic violence matter.

Morris was convicted of fourth-degree assault with domestic violence after a one-day jury trial Dec. 20.

Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Cowgill said Morris assaulted the mother of his child Oct. 20 at Queen of Angels School in Port Angeles.

“The victim and several witnesses testified that Mr. Morris grabbed the victim around the neck and threw her to the ground in full view of a school yard full of children who had just been released from class for the day,” Cowgill said in a Thursday news release.

“Mr. Morris’ actions also caused his child to be knocked to the ground necessitating staff to remove the child from the school yard.”

At trial, Morris maintained that his actions were lawful and that he had been asserting his rights as a father, Cowgill said.

The jury deliberated for about 10 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict, Cowgill said.

“The Prosecuting Attorney’s office takes crimes of domestic violence very seriously,” Cowgill said.

“Our ability to successfully prosecute this case was due in large part to the victim and witnesses who were brave enough to come forward and tell the truth about what they saw and experienced that day.”

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@penin suladailynews.com.