PORT TOWNSEND — A Forks man charged with kidnapping and rape in Jefferson County now faces an additional charge of harassment with threats to kill.
Richard Aaron Dickinson, 34, will be arraigned on the new charge at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 31 after it was filed by Prosecuting Attorney James Kennedy on Friday.
Dickinson has been charged with six felonies in Jefferson County, three of which are the most serious Class A crimes, each punishable by a maximum of life in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
He also has two separate cases with a total of four pending felony charges and a gross misdemeanor in Clallam County, where the alleged incident last March reportedly originated.
Dickinson, who appeared by video conference in Jefferson County Superior Court before Judge Keith Harper, remained Saturday at the Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail.
Harper noted on Friday that Dickinson has been in jail for almost a year — he was originally booked March 16 — and he encouraged both sides to work toward a Feb. 24 trial date.
“I want to move this case along, get it going,” he said.
Defense attorney Kelly McNertney Eckert of the Vindicate Criminal Law Group appeared for the first time on Dickinson’s behalf and expressed concerns about gaining access to discovery documents from Clallam County in time to prepare for trial.
Kennedy said an informal agreement had been reached to file a subpoena for those records as both sides said it would be the fastest way to obtain the documents.
Kennedy also filed a motion to include 3 1/2 hours of audio recordings into evidence, although Eckert said she needed time to file an objection.
Eckert, new to the case, told the court she may ask for a continuance in order to get up to speed.
Dickinson complained in open court last summer about a lack of communication with the law firm hired to represent him, although Harper denied a motion in September for the law firm to withdraw.
Harper signed an authorization for a substitution of counsel following a motion hearing Oct. 11.
Dickinson’s charges stem from a March 7 incident in which a woman told law enforcement officers Dickinson abducted her on the west end of Clallam County and took her to the west end of Jefferson County, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.
The woman told police that Dickinson forcefully removed her from her car and forced her into his truck before he drove to an abandoned home. The woman alleged Dickinson took her to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her, according to the report.
There were three no-contact orders protecting the woman from Dickinson at the time, according to court records.
Dickinson was arrested by a Forks police officer after Dickinson had been hiding in the crawlspace at a relative’s home, according to police records.
Dickinson’s charges in Clallam County include second-degree assault, second-degree assault of a child, reckless driving and violating a no-contact order with two or more previous convictions, according to court records.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
