Judges step down from teen arson case

CHEHALIS, Wash. – Lewis County’s two Superior Court judges removed themselves Tuesday from the case of a 17-year-old charged with arson because the county prosecutor has been accused of using a sexual relationship with the boy’s mother to gain information about the case.

Judges Nelson E. Hunt and Richard Brosey have asked the chief justice of the Washington Supreme Court to find a replacement judge to rule on two motions – one calling for the case to be dismissed and the other asking that the prosecutor’s office be disqualified from the proceedings.

High court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander said Tuesday he had asked Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor to hear the case, as well as motions in another case in which accusations have been made against the prosecutor.

Alexander said Tabor is a veteran judge from a neighboring county and doesn’t know any of the parties involved. Tabor has agreed to take the assignment, Alexander said.

Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden has denied any wrongdoing.

Hunt also announced at a short court hearing that a special prosecutor has been called in from Thurston County. He is Jim Powers, a senior deputy prosecutor.

The boy’s defense lawyer, Jonathan Meyer, said he did not know when the next hearing would be scheduled.

The boy’s mother, Kristine Wallace, told Meyer about her relationship with Golden after her son, Zachary Hughes, entered guilty pleas in juvenile court in April. He has not yet been sentenced but is being electronically monitored at home.

She said in a declaration filed with the court that she had detailed conversations with Golden about her son’s case. She said she shared information with Golden about conversations she had with her son’s lawyer and had text message conversations with Golden after court appearances.

Wallace mailed a complaint about Golden to the Washington State Bar Association on Monday, her lawyer, Joseph Mano, said Tuesday.

Golden did not immediately return a telephone call for comment.

He told radio station KITI he had a relationship with the woman but ended it when Hughes was arrested. Golden denied wrongdoing and said he ordered deputy prosecutors not to give the boy special treatment.