TACOMA, WA - Today Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist refiled charges for the third time against Samual Kinyanjui Waruimbo, 40. Waruimbo faces three counts of indecent liberties, one count of assault in the second degree, and one count of assault in the third degree. The charges stem from two separate cases.
On November 14, 2012, Waruimbo allegedly assaulted a female staff member and a patient at Western State Hospital. Prosecutors charged Waruimbo the next day. Waruimbo’s mental competency was an issue while charges were pending and the court dismissed charges in February 2015. Waruimbo was civilly committed to Western State Hospital.
The State refiled charges in January 2016 when Waruimbo was about to be released. Once again Waruimbo’s competency became an issue and again the court dismissed charges. In October 2017 and Waruimbo was again committed to Western State Hospital.
Now, doctors at WSH have notified the State that Waruimbo is stable and is again being considered for release into the community. So, the State is refiling charges.
“If the defendant is well enough to be released, he ought to be well enough to be held accountable,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
Waruimbo is being held without bail and was ordered to undergo another competency evaluation. A competency hearing is scheduled for August 30, 2018.
Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information, please contact James Lynch at (253) 798-6265, [email protected]