Olson agrees to not drink until October to settle case

MONROE — Everett City Councilman Mark Olson on Thursday said he will abstain from drinking alcohol until October, part of an agreed court order that apparently will end legal wrangling over alleged violations of a deferred prosecution in a 2003 drunken driving case.

Olson also must obtain a new drug and alcohol assessment and follow any of its recommendations.

A Snohomish County deputy prosecutor and a court probation officer recommended Thursday’s outcome.

Olson will be under court supervision until October, the end of the court’s five-year jurisdiction over his case.

A deferred prosecution is available for some first-time offenders in drunken-driving cases. Under deferred prosecutions, defendants avoid jail if they comply with court-ordered conditions. They eventually can have the case dismissed.

After a brief hearing Thursday in Monroe’s Evergreen District Court, Olson said only: “I feel good.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

His attorney, Bill Bowman of Bellevue, said what happened in court Thursday is consistent with the original recommendation of the probation officer in August.

“I wish we could have resolved this then,” Bowman said.

Olson’s alcohol consumption became an issue earlier this year when a search warrant was filed for his downtown Everett law offices. The search came after a woman accused Olson of sexually assaulting her there after an evening of drinking.

A probation officer noted that the drinking happened within the five-year ban that was in place on Olson’s alcohol consumption as part of the 2003 deferred prosecution. The probation officer called the situation to the court’s attention.

No charges have been filed in connection with the assault allegation, which is being reviewed by a Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Weyrich.

The question of what should be done about Olson’s alleged drinking violation first arose in front of Judge Jay Wisman in Cascade District Court in Arlington. Wisman heard the case and extended the court’s jurisdiction to 2010.

Wisman’s ruling came despite Bowman’s request for the judge to step aside. Olson appealed. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Cowsert signed an order, presented jointly by Olson’s attorney and prosecutors, holding that Wisman should have stepped aside.

Cowsert sent the case to Judge Patricia Lyon in Monroe, the county’s presiding district court judge. She took the case herself.

Bowman has acknowledged in court that Olson violated the 2003 court order, but maintained Olson did so only after receiving erroneous advice from a former attorney and a counselor. Olson is an attorney. The court order Olson signed in 2003 said he could not drink for five years.

Both Olson’s former lawyer and his counselor filed affidavits with the court saying they told Olson he could resume drinking after two years.

“Neither Mr. Olson nor his attorney reviewed the (court) order at the time this advice was given,” according to the agreement signed in court Thursday by Lyon, Bowman and deputy prosecutor Thomas Curtis.

“I think Mr. Olson got some very bad advice,” Lyon said in court.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Cars drive along Cathcart Way next to the site of the proposed Eastview Village development that borders Little Cedars Elementary on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in unincorporated Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Former engineer: Snohomish County rushed plans for Eastview development

David Irwin cited red flags from the developers. After he resigned, the county approved the development that’s now stalled with an appeal

Outside of the Madrona School on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sewer district notifies Edmonds schools of intent to sue

The letter of intent alleges the school district has failed to address long-standing “water pollution issues” at Madrona K-8 School.

Everett
Man stabbed in face outside Everett IHOP, may lose eye

Police say the suspect fled in the victim’s car, leading officers on a 6-mile chase before his arrest.

A person walks up 20th Street Southeast to look at the damage that closed the road on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
WA delegation urges Trump to reconsider request for bomb cyclone aid

The Washington state congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump on… Continue reading

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett Municipal Building to close for two weeks

The closure is part of the building’s $36 million repair project. City staff will be accessible by phone and email during business hours.

Help Washington manage European green crabs with citizen science events

Washington State University and Washington Sea Grant will hold a training at Willis Tucker Park on June 2.

Emilee Swenson pulls kids around in a wagon at HopeWorks' child care center Tomorrow’s Hope, a job training program for people interested in child care, on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 in Everett, Washington. HopeWorks is one of the organizations reciving funding from the ARPA $4.3 million stipend. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Early learning group presents countywide survey findings

The survey highlighted the largest issues parents and providers are facing amid the county’s child care crisis.

Brian Murril, who started at Liberty Elementary as a kindergartner in 1963, looks for his yearbook photograph during an open house for the public to walk through the school before its closing on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Locals say goodbye to Marysville school after 74 years

Liberty Elementary is one of two schools the Marysville School District is closing later this year to save costs.

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.