PORT TOWNSEND — A driver who allegedly led law enforcement officers on a two-county high-speed pursuit that reached a speed of 118 mph in an allegedly stolen pickup has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges and two misdemeanors.
Oscar Hernandez-Buenrostro, 22, of Lynnwood appeared in court by video monitor from the Jefferson County Jail on Friday in Superior Court, where defense attorney Scott Charlton entered the pleas on his behalf.
Two others who drove a separate vehicle in the Nov. 17 incident and who were charged with separate crimes each pleaded not guilty.
Hernandez-Buenrostro pleaded not guilty to theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle in addition to second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle while endangering others. He was also charged with possession of someone else’s identification and making or possessing vehicle theft tools.
Three of the crimes are Class B felonies, each punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
The eluding charge would add a minimum of 12 months a possible sentence, if he is convicted, according to court documents.
Trial dates for Hernandez-Buenrostro were set for Jan. 13-16. He remained in jail Sunday. Superior Court Commissioner Eileen Baratuci had reduced his bail from $100,000 to $50,000.
Mikayla Shaye Winkler, 22, of Renton pleaded not guilty to being an accomplice in an attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle while endangering others. She also pleaded not guilty to possessing methamphetamine, making or possessing motor vehicle theft tools and the use of drug paraphernalia.
Joshua Taylor Daniels, 26, of Renton pleaded not guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm based on a conviction of a non-serious felony offense in addition to second-degree possession of a stolen access device and the possession of heroin.
Separately, trials for Winkler and Daniels each were set for Feb. 18-21. They each were released on personal recognizance following their initial appearances Nov. 18.
Charging documents allege Hernandez-Buenrostro stole a pickup from 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn and was driving eastbound on U.S. Highway 101 toward Jefferson County.
A friend of the owner was following the pickup, according to the police report.
As Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to intercept the vehicle, Clallam County deputies requested for the truck to be stopped and the driver detained.
Jefferson County deputy Justin Coronado activated his lights on state Highway 104 prior to milepost 1, and charging documents state Hernandez-Buenrostro took off in a large black cloud of exhaust.
After a failed attempt to deflate the truck’s tires with stop sticks, deputies followed the truck to the intersection of state Highway 19, where Hernandez-Buenrostro turned into the ditch due to the truck’s high rate of speed.
At times, speeds reached 118 mph on state Highway 104, court documents state.
Court papers said Hernandez-Buenrostro backed into Coronado’s vehicle and continued to flee until he was tracked down by a K-9 unit from Kitsap County about 100 feet away from the truck at the end of Evans Vista Road in Port Townsend.
Meanwhile, Winkler was driving Daniels’ red Dodge Dart with Daniels as a passenger, police said, and court documents said they ran interference between the truck and pursuing law enforcement vehicles.
Deputy Gordon Tamura located the Dart on Fredricks Street and state Highway 20, and Sgt. Brett Anglin later determined the two were involved with Hernandez-Buenrostro and the stolen truck, court documents said.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.