Car thief threatens judge

Published 1:30 am Friday, January 18, 2019

A car thief who threatened a judge in court was recently sent to prison by another judge.

Under a complicated plea bargain, Oak Harbor resident Louis Scarpino, 31, pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court Jan. 14 to intimidating a judge and possession of a stolen vehicle.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed three other cases, which involved allegations of possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest and vandalism at the jail.

Also, the prosecution agreed not to file charges stemming from a current police investigation.

Both the prosecutor and defense attorney recommended a sentence of five years and nine months in prison, which Judge Alan Hancock imposed.

An officer with the Oak Harbor Police Department arrested Scarpino after he was seen getting out of a stolen car on Dec. 18.

Scarpino appeared in superior court the next day and repeatedly interrupted Judge Vickie Churchill. He became upset when she increased his bail and threatened he would “come after” her, according to the police report.

He bit the end off a microphone and spit the foam over his shoulder. He tried to “grab” another microphone with his mouth and pushed the table over.

Three corrections officers removed Scarpino from the courtroom.

Scarpino was wheeled into court in a restraint chair during a subsequent hearing.

Scarpino’s criminal history includes burglary, vehicle prowls, drug possession and communicating with a child for immoral purposes.