Use of Highly Explosive Solvents put Children at Risk
A federal grand jury has indicted three people in connection with hash oil manufacturing that endangered young children, announced Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes. Police and fire personnel responded to the homes in south Seattle and in Maple Valley after citizens expressed concern about the children in the homes. Investigating officers discovered hash oil manufacturing operations with highly explosive butane gas in the basement of each home, in one case, directly under the bedroom of the young children who live there. All three defendants will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
In the south Seattle incident, JESSE RUSSELL DAVISSON, 36, has been charged with Endangering Human Life while Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana. Police reports indicate officers were called to the home on July 1, 2014, to check on the welfare of three children ages 13, 11 and 8. In the basement officers found a hash oil manufacturing operation with cans of butane scattered on the floor. Seattle Fire was called in to make sure any explosive gas was vented and ignition sources were disconnected. DAVISSON was arrested today and will make his initial appearance at 2:00 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
In the second case, JOSHUA MATTHEW MAUK, 38, and DEBORAH ELIZABETH BRECHLER, 52, are charged with Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises, and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana. On July 27, 2014, the King County Sheriff’s Office was called on to check on the welfare of two children at a home in Maple Valley. Due to evidence and information provided by a member of the public, the officers obtained a court authorized search warrant and responded with a bomb disposal unit. Officers located a homemade hash oil lab that used explosive solvents directly under the bedroom where two young children were sleeping. The couple operated a business dubbed “Home Blown Concentrates." The lab was dismantled and the couple was charged in King County Superior court. Those charges will be dismissed with the filing of federal charges. MAUK and BRESCHLER will appear for arraignment on April 30, 2015.
Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances is punishable by up to ten years in prison and three years of supervised release; Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana is punishable by up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.
The charges contained in the indictments are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The cases were investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the King County Sheriff’s Office. The King County Prosecutors Office provided substantial assistance on these cases. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Vince Lombardi.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
