A 47-year-old man entered the Sequim Police Department on July 16 seeking assistance through the city’s human services fund and departed in law enforcement custody, per a probable cause certification submitted in Clallam County Superior Court.
Listed in court filings as residing in Kent, Andy Kim now faces three felony counts: possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, second-degree theft, and forgery. He has since been released from custody, and his arraignment—postponed twice—remains scheduled for 1 p.m. this Friday before Judge Elizabeth Stanley.
The criminal information, filed July 21 by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steven P. Johnson Jr., outlines the charges. The methamphetamine count, classified as a Class B felony, carries a potential sentence of up to a decade in prison. The remaining two charges—second-degree theft exceeding $750 and forgery involving a check—are Class C felonies, each punishable by up to five years in custody and/or a $10,000 fine.
Court records indicate the original arrest certification contained additional allegations beyond those formally charged. Among them were first-degree theft totaling $6,465.57, six separate forgery incidents, and criminal conspiracy. Jail booking documents corroborate these additions, listing conspiracy among the six initial charges.
According to the police investigation, authorities first became involved on July 14, when Officer Taran Johnson took a fraud report concerning the US Bank location at 101 W. Washington St. An account holder relayed how a friend had requested help depositing a check supposedly from an aunt’s East Coast trust fund. The check was intended for an 88-year-old woman from Neah Bay, who was unable to handle the deposit herself and needed funds for tires.
On July 10, the transaction occurred in the bank’s parking lot. The $960 check, issued by an Idaho resident’s US Bank account and payable to the Neah Bay woman for “home services,” was presented. Kim reportedly appended the account holder’s name to the payee line before handing over the instrument. The ATM processed the deposit, and Kim withdrew $800—the maximum allowed—shortly thereafter.
The following day, a $1,920 check associated with Capital One cleared through the same ATM, despite a routing number mismatch with the institution. By July 13, the account had been flagged: one check had bounced, while the other was rejected as altered, prompting the bank to reverse the credited funds.
On July 16, a sergeant detained Kim upon his arrival at the police department. He reportedly waived his Miranda rights and explained that he had forged blank checks provided by a man in Bremerton, filling in the amounts and recipient names himself. He maintained he had not stolen the checks outright.
Kim also disclosed that he purchased methamphetamine in quantities up to an ounce at a time and sometimes resold portions to friends and acquaintances. He stated most of the proceeds from the checks were lost at 7 Cedars Casino, with the remainder allocated toward tires and vehicle repairs.
Judge Simon Barnhart subsequently issued a warrant authorizing searches of Kim’s phone and vehicle. Officers discovered four modified or forged checks, credit and debit cards issued under other individuals’ names, a expired state ID belonging to the Neah Bay woman, and a lunchbox containing glass pipes and multiple baggies of a white crystalline substance. Based on prior training and experience, Officer Johnson identified the substance as methamphetamine.
Additional items collected included unused plastic baggies, metal shims, and digital scales displaying residue. Some gear was retrieved from the vehicle’s back seat and trunk. The total weight of the drugs and packaging came to 158.78 grams—just over five and a half ounces.
Kim has participated in two court hearings but has not yet entered a plea.
Jail records indicate the defendant was booked into custody at 8:54 p.m. on July 16 and was released at 2:26 p.m. on July 21.
During the July 21 proceeding, Judge Brent Basden addressed a potential conflict concerning attorney Joseph Wolfley. Following Wolfley's agreement to the arrangement, the judge stated that court administration would assign the defendant a new public defender. The defendant then spoke to the court regarding the terms of his release.
Judge Basden released the defendant on his own recognizance despite objections from the State, cautioning that a warrant would be issued if he failed to appear in person.
The defendant's new conflict counsel appeared on July 24 and indicated that he had not yet communicated with his client or reviewed the probable cause statement. He requested an additional week to prepare, a request that Basden granted.
No plea has been entered by the defendant.