"Inslee is Incompetent and Not Running for Re-election"

Case No. 22-1-04242-3SEA

The State of Washington vs Shane Lozenich

Arrested: 08/10/2022 | Released: 05/05/2023

Cause: Felony Threats Against The Governor- Case Pending

Case Summary

In Case No. 22-1-04242-3SEA, Shane Lozenich was arrested on August 10, 2022, following what he described as an "ambush" by officers in both police and military attire for allegedly leaving a threatening voicemail for Governor Jay Inslee—a felony charge for which no transcription or corroborating evidence has been produced in over two years. During his ten-month pretrial detention, Lozenich reported that he was denied a warrant and Miranda rights, subjected to contaminated jail water, and brutally assaulted by an ex-Marine cellmate, which resulted in a fractured nose and his subsequent placement in a solitary confinement cell covered in swastika graffiti,,. Despite having been previously deemed competent, a new evaluation by Claire Ashbaugh, PhD, diagnosed him with an unspecified psychotic disorder based on "delusional themes" regarding his missing mother and neighbors, leading to a 45-day restoration order that Lozenich alleges was signed by the judge one day before the actual hearing was scheduled. Though released in May 2023 after serving what he termed a full sentence’s worth of time, the case remains pending without a trial, conviction, or plea deal,. These events are characterized by the Journal of Legal Systems & Civil Liberties as a "procedural breakdown" and a "systemic failure" involving the misuse of competency proceedings as a "substitute for justice" while Lozenich continues to maintain that he is a victim of ongoing Voice-to-Skull (V2K) torture.

Image: Former Governor Jay Inslee

The provided page from the LegalPortal documents Case No. 22-1-04242-3SEA (State of Washington vs. Shane Lozenich), which involves felony charges for alleged threats against Governor Jay Inslee. The documentation details a long-term pretrial detention characterized by procedural anomalies, alleged institutional abuse, and a contested competency evaluation.

Arrest and Procedural Irregularities

The "Ambush": On August 10, 2022, Lozenich was arrested at his apartment by a group of men in police uniforms and military-style attire.
Lack of Due Process: Lozenich reports that he was interrogated in a public hallway without an attorney, was never provided with a warrant, and was not read his Miranda rights.
The Charges: The felony charges stem from a voicemail allegedly left on the governor’s office line. Lozenich notes that a transcription of this voicemail was never submitted as evidence, and no other corroborating evidence has been presented in over two years.

Competency and Psychiatric Findings

Contested Evaluation: Despite having been previously deemed competent, a new evaluation was ordered after his attorney raised concerns about "delusions".
Diagnosis: Evaluator Claire Ashbaugh, PhD, diagnosed Lozenich with an unspecified psychotic disorder. While noting his thought processes were linear and organized, she concluded that his "perseveration on delusional themes"—specifically his focus on his mother’s disappearance and missing neighbors—would prevent him from effectively assisting in his defense.
Preemptive Orders: Lozenich alleges that a 45-day restoration commitment to Western State Hospital was ordered by the judge on September 13, 2022, one day before the actual hearing was scheduled to take place.

Conditions of Incarceration (August 2022 – May 2023)

Health and Safety Issues: During ten months in jail, Lozenich fell ill due to contaminated water.
Violent Assault: He was brutally assaulted by an ex-Marine cellmate, resulting in a fractured nose and facial injuries. Following the attack, he was placed in solitary confinement in a cell covered in swastika graffiti.
Lack of Advocacy: Although jail staff identified Lozenich as the victim, no charges were pressed against his attacker, and his attorney was reportedly never informed of the incident.

Release and Ongoing Legal Status

Release Without Trial: Lozenich was released on May 5, 2023, after serving what he describes as a full sentence’s worth of time without a trial, conviction, or plea deal.
Pending Case: The case remains pending in Superior Court, marked by a "revolving door" of public defenders and frequent continuances that have delayed a resolution for over two years.
Technological Harassment: Lozenich maintains he is a victim of Voice-to-Skull (V2K) torture, which he believes was used as a form of espionage regarding his case.

Systemic Analysis: "Procedural Breakdown"

The page includes an abstract from the Journal of Legal Systems & Civil Liberties, which characterizes these events as a "procedural breakdown". The analysis cites the erosion of due process, the misuse of competency proceedings as a "substitute for justice," and the potential for political sensitivity given that the charges coincided with legal challenges against the Governor.

CASE DOCUMENTS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dexter Horton Building

710 Second Ave Suite 1000

Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 477-5814 (office)

Imran Sultan, Public Defender

imsultan@kingcounty.gov

(206) 321-7084 (cell)

Christine Tian, Public Defender

ctian@kingcounty.gov

(206) 914-3312 (cell)

Jordan Murov-Goodman, Public Defender

jmurovgoodman@kingcounty.gov

(206) 930-4677 (cell)

DSHS North Regional Office

Office of Forensic Mental Health Services

(206) 289-2052 (office)

Dr. Thomas J Kinlen, DSHS

Director of Forensic & Mental Health Services

thomas.kinlen@dshs.wa.gov

(206) 289-2052 (office)

Claire Ashbaugh, PhD, Evaluator

ashbacs@dshs.wa.gov

(206) 289-2052 (office)

Statistics Related to Charges

The requested black and white diagram has been generated to illustrate the temporal relationship between Lozenich's incarceration and the concurrent labor bargaining activities in King County .

Summary of Incarceration and Bargaining Overlap

A labor dossier indicates that Lozenich's periods of incarceration directly overlapped with active collective-bargaining cycles for King County's corrections and coalition staff .

Window A (July 2021 – January 2022): Lozenich was arrested on July 23, 2021, and remained in custody through January 5, 2022. During this time, the Coalition Labor Agreement (CLA) for 2021–2024 was in full implementation, and the Corrections Guild Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA 295C0122) was being finalized to take effect on January 1, 2022 .
Window B (August 2022 – May 2023): This second period of incarceration overlapped with significant County Council legislative actions, including the May 2022 ordinance that authorized retention bonuses and ongoing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) filings throughout the end of 2022 .
Operational Context: These labor contracts contain key provisions regarding mandatory overtime (Article 6), staffing levels (Article 13), and emergency authority (Article 20), which directly define the operational environment and staffing conditions within the jail during the time Lozenich was in custody .

The generated diagram, incarceration_labor_timeline_bw.png, visualizes these overlaps in black and white, highlighting the concurrent nature of these institutional and personal events.

Case Analysis

Surveillance, Silence, & Systemic Failure: A Case Study of Procedural Breakdown in Seattle

Abstract

This article examines State of Washington v. Shane Lozenich (Case No. 22-1-04242-3SEA), a pending felony case involving allegations of threats against the Governor of Washington. The defendant’s experience reveals a troubling pattern of warrantless arrest, prolonged pretrial detention, involuntary psychiatric restoration, and ineffective legal representation. The analysis explores the erosion of due process, the misuse of competency proceedings, and the broader implications for civil liberties in politically sensitive prosecutions.

Legal Issues Raised

1. Warrantless Arrest and Lack of Miranda Warning

Arrest conducted by unidentified officers, some in military-style attire
No warrant presented; no Miranda rights read Interrogation conducted in public hallway without legal counsel

2. Unsubstantiated Charges and Lack of Evidence

Alleged threat communicated via voicemail not received by the governor directly
No transcription or description of voicemail submitted
No corroborating evidence presented at arraignment or omnibus hearing

3. Competency Proceedings Without Justification

Defendant previously deemed competent; new evaluation ordered without cause
Restoration order filed before scheduled hearing
No explanation provided for preemptive judicial action

4. Prolonged Detention and Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment

Ten months in jail without trial, plea, or conviction
Threat of re-commitment to Western State Hospital despite release
Psychiatric restoration ordered based on disputed prior DSHS interaction

5. Failure to Protect and Represent the Defendant

Assault in jail by another inmate; no charges filed
Solitary confinement in unsafe conditions
Repeated attorney turnover; lack of continuity or defense strategy

Commentary & Implications

1. Due Process and Judicial Overreach

The preemptive filing of a restoration order prior to a competency hearing undermines the adversarial process and violates the defendant’s right to contest psychiatric intervention. Judicial discretion must be balanced by procedural safeguards.

2. Mental Health Court as a Substitute for Justice

While mental health court is designed to offer alternatives to incarceration, its use as a default resolution—especially without trial or plea—raises concerns about coercion and the erosion of legal agency.

3. Political Sensitivity and Selective Prosecution

The timing of the charges, coinciding with legal challenges against Governor Jay Inslee, suggests potential political motivations. The lack of direct evidence and repeated continuances point to prosecutorial hesitation or strategic delay.

4. Electronic Harassment Allegations and Emerging Threats

The defendant’s claims of “voice to skull” torture and surveillance, while controversial, reflect a growing need for legal frameworks to address emerging forms of psychological and technological harm.

5. Systemic Breakdown in Legal Representation

The revolving door of public defenders, lack of communication, and failure to pursue dismissal or trial reflect a broader crisis in indigent defense. Without consistent advocacy, defendants risk being lost in procedural limbo.

Conclusion

State of Washington v. Shane Lozenich exemplifies how procedural ambiguity, psychiatric overreach, and ineffective counsel can converge to deny justice. The case calls for urgent reform in competency adjudication, mental health court protocols, and the protection of defendants in politically charged prosecutions. Without these reforms, the legal system risks becoming a mechanism of indefinite detention rather than a forum for truth and accountability.