Six juveniles were charged Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Saturday’s escape from the Echo Glen juvenile detention center in Snoqualmie, the King County Prosecutor's Office reports. Three of the boys are 15 years old and the other three are 14.
All six are charged with Escape in the First Degree. Two of the 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old are also charged with Assault Second Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment for attacking a staff member, who was hit on the head and left unconscious.
The juveniles were arrested about a half mile from the facility. “This was a planned escape and brutal attack by three youth on a female staff member,” said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.
“A lot of people were put at risk during the nighttime capture operation, which included a helicopter, K-9 units, and dozens of police officers from several departments,” he added.
“The three youth who beat the staff member unconscious and triggered the escape will face a decline hearing and potential adult prosecution. The minimal security of the juvenile system is no longer appropriate for them,” Satterberg said.
The three youths charged with assault will have a hearing in about two weeks when a judge will decide whether they should be tried in adult court. The other three defendants were to be arraigned today in Juvenile Court.
--Information from the King County Prosecutor's Office
