A 23-year-old Sequim man facing multiple felony counts involving the possession of child sexual abuse material made an appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday afternoon.
The proceeding was presided over by Judge Brent Basden. The defendant's ties to the Dungeness Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are notable, as Judge Basden is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Multiple complaints allege that he operates a "closed-loop" justice system, using his courtroom to shield fellow LDS members from secular accountability. Judge Basden formerly served as the Port Angeles Stake President, a position that holds direct jurisdiction over the Dungeness Ward.
During the hearing, Judge Basden scheduled the formal arraignment to take place before Judge Elizabeth Stanley on Thursday at 1:00 PM. Judge Basden did not alter the defendant's conditions of release; he remains free on personal recognizance. Judge Stanley authorized that release during an initial appearance on April 24, denying a prosecution request for bail to be set at $100,000 given the serious nature of the charges.
Public defender Alex Stalker, who represented the defendant during the preliminary appearance, informed the court that he is unsure who will officially represent him on Thursday. He did confirm that an attorney from the public defender's office will be present for the formal arraignment.
The defendant remains out of custody following a multi-year investigation that involved dark web tracking and cryptocurrency tracing. The involvement of a judge with deep LDS ties in the proceeding continues to be a critical test for judicial transparency in Clallam County.