Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

04/24/2026

National Crime Victims' Rights Week brings an opportunity to elevate the work of the incredible team of advocates at our office who support victims, survivors, and their families as they navigate the criminal justice system and work to rebuild their lives.

Advocates act as a liaison between prosecutors and victims, working tirelessly to ensure victims know their rights, understand the court process, receive assistance or referrals to address their needs, and have support at every step.

Two of their greatest resources are Marshal and Sky, the Thurston County Courthouse Facility Dogs, who provide comfort to crime victims during interviews, court hearings, and trial.

04/23/2026

April 19 - 25 is National Crime Victims' Rights Week, and this year's theme is:
"Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities."

In that spirit, today we'd like to highlight two of our amazing community partners who support victims through some of their darkest hours.

SafePlace Olympia supports victims and survivors of both domestic violence and sexual assault/abuse with emergency shelter, a 24-hour helpline, safety planning, support groups, and more.

Family Support Center of South Sound has a team of confidential advocates who work with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking by offering services such as: safety planning, crisis support, help with filing police reports and protection orders in addition to shelter and assistance with basic needs.

04/22/2026

Yesterday, we joined the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners in honoring one of our most outstanding team members, Wendy Ireland, for 35 years of public service to the residents of Thurston County! Of her many accomplishments and contributions over the years, one of the most noteworthy is her leadership with the County Courthouse Facility Dogs program. She has served as the caregiver for our beloved Marshal for over ten years and has been an integral part of building and expanding the program in recent years.

Congratulations, Wendy! Your contributions are immeasurable, and we are better because of you!

04/18/2026

This week, our Special Victims Team presented to the Thurston County Board of Health in support of the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation. We are grateful for attorneys, advocates, and community partners who work tirelessly to enhance investigations, support children through the most difficult moments, and provide hope for a better future.

03/10/2026

We’re excited to welcome Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julia Hosmer back to the office!

Julia is jumping right back in with a General Felony caseload, bringing experience, dedication, and a strong commitment to serving our community.

Please join us in giving her a warm welcome back!

03/10/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 Washington State Diversion & Deflection Summit.

The summit offers a collaborative learning experience focused on practical strategies, funding models, and success stories that reduce incarceration, ease burdens on law enforcement and courts, and connect individuals to supportive services.

Register to secure your seat today! https://whova.com/portal/registration/-RtAZm37301RTAdGsBqu/

02/02/2026

At our recent recognition ceremony, Deputy Prosecutor Randy Trick was honored with the Bucky Excellence Award from Pasado's Safe Haven in recognition of his diligence and commitment to prosecuting animal cruelty cases. 🐾

He was specifically recognized for securing a 48-month prison sentence for Animal Cruelty in the First Degree and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, stemming from the October 2023 killing of a young dog named Rocky.

The Bucky Excellence Award includes funding for continued training. Randy completed specialized training from a previous award to our office, and this year’s award will extend that opportunity to another Deputy Prosecutor handling animal cruelty cases.

We are grateful to the detectives and prosecutors who work tirelessly to seek justice in these difficult cases and to Pasado’s Safe Haven for their ongoing dedication to preventing and prosecuting animal abuse.

01/21/2026

We were honored to join the Board of County Commissioners yesterday for a proclamation formally recognizing January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Thurston County.

Our Crime Victim Advocacy Services advocates work with survivors of human trafficking and collaborate with community partners to coordinate response efforts.

Please see the resources linked below, and reach out to Innovations HTC or one of our advocates (360-786-5601) if you're being trafficked and need assistance.

01/16/2026

2026 is off to a strong start! We are excited to welcome three new attorneys to our team. Please join us in welcoming Sarah Fassio, as well as Darren Clark and McKenzie Will, who return to our office after previously serving as interns.

We’re proud to see former interns continue their careers with us and are grateful to have all three attorneys bring their talent, commitment, and enthusiasm to public service. Please help us give them a warm welcome!

12/20/2025

This week, Nicholas Denham was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility parole for the 2020 murders of Charlene Van Auken and her 4-year-old daughter, Zooey Peetz.

We are deeply grateful to the jurors for their attention and commitment throughout the seven-week trial and to the many dedicated individuals whose hard work and perseverance made the investigation and the second successful prosecution of these crimes possible.

A Thurston County Superior Court Judge sentenced Nicholas Denham to life in prison after a jury convicted him of murdering a mother and her 4-year-old daughter.