**Hazardous Homes: Hash Oil Manufacturing Endangers Young Children in Seattle and Maple Valley**
Three individuals face federal charges for operating hash oil manufacturing operations in two separate homes in south Seattle and Maple Valley, putting the lives of young children at risk. Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced the indictment of JESSE RUSSELL DAVISSON, 36, JOSHUA MATTHEW MAUK, 38, and DEBORAH ELIZABETH BRECHLER, 52.
In the south Seattle incident, DAVISSON is charged with Endangering Human Life while Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana. On July 1, 2014, police responded to a home to check on the welfare of three children, aged 13, 11, and 8, after receiving citizen concerns. Officers discovered a hash oil manufacturing operation with butane cans scattered on the floor in the basement, directly under the children’s bedroom.
Seattle Fire personnel were called in to ensure any explosive gas was vented and ignition sources were disconnected. DAVISSON was arrested today and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
In the second case, MAUK and BRECHLER are charged with Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises, and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana. On July 27, 2014, the King County Sheriff’s Office received a call to check on the welfare of two children at a home in Maple Valley, where a member of the public had raised concerns. Officers obtained a court-authorized search warrant and responded with a bomb disposal unit, discovering a homemade hash oil lab directly under the bedroom where the children were sleeping.
The lab, operated by MAUK and BRECHLER under the business ‘Home Blown Concentrates,’ was dismantled, and the couple was charged in King County Superior Court. Those charges will be dismissed in favor of federal charges. MAUK and BRECHLER will appear for arraignment on April 30, 2015.
The charges carry serious penalties, with Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances punishable by up to 10 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises punishable by up to 20 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release, and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana punishable by up to 5 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
The cases were investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the King County Sheriff’s Office, with substantial assistance provided by the King County Prosecutors Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Vince Lombardi will prosecute the cases.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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