Chehalis, WA — A 17-year-old inmate at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention center, faces adult charges after a series of violent incidents, including a brutal attack on a female staff member earlier in June. The inmate, identified as Dezmen Michael Belgarde, has been charged with multiple counts of custodial assault, intimidation of a public servant, an attempt at robbery, and second-degree assault.
The incidents culminated on June 13 when Belgarde, according to court documents, attacked a female staff member after forcibly taking her keys and assaulting her severely. The attack triggered intervention by another inmate and a different staff member, both of whom also became his targets. Later the same day, after being relocated within the facility, Belgarde reportedly threw a bottle filled with urine at staff members.
The facility reported the assault the following day to the Chehalis Police Department, sparking an immediate investigation. Belgarde, who at the time was already detained at Green Hill School on unrelated charges, added to his legal troubles significantly with these actions.
During his arrangement in the Lewis County Superior Court, it was agreed that Belgarde would remain at Green Hill School for the duration of his trial, as he is already serving a sentence that extends several years into the future. At his initial hearing on July 16, the court set a subsequent arraignment date for July 18.
This incident underlines ongoing issues at Green Hill School, which currently houses about 200 youth detainees, significantly above the 180 capacity considered ideal for maintaining a conducive environment for rehabilitation. Overcrowding has been a chronic problem, exacerbated by the facility’s challenges in maintaining order and ensuring the safety of both staff and residents.
In response to these issues, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) recently transferred 43 adult offenders from Green Hill to other institutions and has temporarily halted new entries into both Green Hill and Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie. This move, according to Allison Krutsinger, DCYF director of public affairs, aims to ease the operational strain and foster a safer, more therapeutic milieu.
Krutsinger expressed a cautious optimism about the steps being taken to improve conditions at the facility. “It’s been a tremendously challenging environment,” Krutsinger stated, noting the efforts to reintroduce more robust programming and better staff support as part of the reform measures.
These administrative actions come amidst wider scrutiny of Green Hill School following a raid earlier in the year by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, which unearthed evidence of drug possession among the inmates and, according to state officials, an array of other felony activities.
The situation at Green Untitled School presents a complex blend of administrative, ethical, and safety challenges that stakeholders hope will be mitigated through strategic reforms and enhanced oversight. As the authorities and the facility’s administration continue grappling with these challenges, the emphasis remains on safeguarding the well-being of both the juveniles and the staff, while simultaneously aligning with rehabilitative objectives.