No-contact order, no problem for vehicular homicide suspect

EVERETT — An Everett teen with a pending vehicular homicide charge has reportedly violated a court order at least four times while out of custody awaiting trial.

The incidents all involve his ex-girlfriend, who he was convicted of assaulting in February and is banned from contacting. She has reported that he’s broken into her home, prowled around the family’s backyard and held the 17-year-old against her will in a bathroom stall at the Lynnwood Recreation Center.

Prosecutors earlier this month filed a residential burglary charge against Sergey Chmukh, 18, for an incident in May. That charge was filed three days after the teen was arrested again for allegedly trying to get into the girl’s house. Chmukh is facing a felony charge for that incident, too.

Court documents track allegations of multiple violations of judges’ orders with seemingly few consequences.

In the spring, Chmukh was released without having to post bail after pleading not guilty to the vehicular homicide charge in juvenile court. Police say Chmukh was speeding when he crashed into Roy Bennett Oct. 16 on 112th Street SE in south Everett. Bennett, 89, died two days later. Chmukh, who was 17 at the time, had a learner’s permit. He denied speeding and blamed the crash on Bennett.

During an April 17 arraignment hearing in juvenile court, a judge ordered Chmukh not to drive or to commit any new crimes. He was released without bail while awaiting his trial, then scheduled for June 6.

Chmukh was arrested less than two weeks later after his ex-girlfriend reported that he forced her inside the men’s locker room at Lynnwood Recreation Center and refused to let her go. Police were told that Chmukh, now 18, was angry that the girl didn’t want to get back together with him.

Prosecutors quickly charged him in district court with multiple crimes but didn’t refile the case into superior court. The victim provided contradictory statements to prosecutors, Snohomish County chief criminal deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson said.

Prosecutors in juvenile court in early May, however, requested that the court impose $25,000 bail in the vehicular homicide case based on the arrest, a violation of the terms of his release pending trial. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Marybeth Dingledy set bail at $10,000. Chmukh posted bail two days later through Aladdin Bail Bonds in Everett.

Two weeks later, Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies were advised that a neighbor had seen someone skulking around Chmukh’s ex-girlfriend’s house. A home security camera reportedly captured Chmukh breaking into the house. He allegedly stayed in the house about 30 minutes, according to court papers.

Chmukh was not arrested. The case was forwarded to prosecutors in early June but not charged until Aug. 9. Prosecutors didn’t seek additional bail on the vehicular homicide charge after the alleged burglary.

It also doesn’t appear that higher bail was requested after an incident on June 26 involving the same victim. Prosecutors say a residential burglary charge is pending in connection with that incident. They also reported that Chmukh was cited on June 13 for operating a vehicle without insurance, a violation of his bail order not to drive.

The presumption is for release pending trial absent some flight risk or danger to the community, Matheson said.

“Once the motion to revoke is argued and the judge makes his or her decision, we’re generally done unless something else comes up,” he said.

Chmukh was arrested Aug. 3 for allegedly violating the no-contact order again. He reportedly was spotted in his ex-girlfriend’s back yard. A surveillance camera reportedly showed Chmukh trying to open a screen door.

“Sergey has shown a pattern of stalking/harassment against the victim. Sergey does not care that there is a no contact order. Sergey lied to deputies multiple times and has no remorse in committing crimes against the victim. I am concerned for the victim’s safety,” Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy David Rogers wrote in his arrest report.

A judge set bail at $7,500. Prosecutors on Aug. 8 charged Chmukh in district court with attempted residential burglary in connection with the recent incident. The next day he was charged with residential burglary in superior court for the May break-in. A judge ordered him held on $25,000 bail and the teen remained in jail.

Meanwhile his probation counselor in juvenile court has requested a judge review Chmukh’s bail order in the vehicular homicide case, citing the additional charges and arrests since May.

That hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Prosecutors have indicated that if Chmukh is convicted of vehicular homicide, they will ask that he be locked up until his 21st birthday. His trial is scheduled for October.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.