A Thurston County judge set bail at $500,000 Tuesday for two Lacey men accused of being white nationalist extremists and hoarding weapons.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested the two men after federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home on the 3000 block of Puget Meadow Loop Northeast, just east of Willamette Drive, in Lacey.
Law enforcement seized more than 35 firearms from the home, including short-barrel rifles, machine guns, handguns and a short-barrel shotgun, according to court records. They also seized various other weapons, explosives and equipment, some of which were restricted Army-issued munitions.
Officers reported these items were stored alongside Nazi flags and paraphernalia.
Aside from the firearms, law enforcement say they found grenade launchers, flash bang or stun grenades, blasting caps, body armor, ballistic helmets, night vision goggles, hundreds of magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Following the search, the Sheriff’s Office booked the two men into the county jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle and unlawful possession of explosives without a license.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Derek Sanders posted about the investigation on Facebook and shared photos of the equipment and Nazi imagery found within the home.
Sanders said his office assisted the Army Criminal Investigation Division with the investigation and a Federal Bureau of Investigation SWAT team executed the warrant.
The Army CID sought to search the home after determining the two men were involved in a “violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor,” Sanders said.
“Fantastic work by Army CID and our SWAT Commander to get these items recovered swiftly,” Sanders said in his post.
Court records indicate the alleged robbery and theft occurred at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and law enforcement believe the two men are actively involved in the “White Nationalist Socialist Movement (Nazi).”
Sanders said the two men will likely face additional federal charges once the Army CID investigation is completed.
Thurston County Judge John Skinder set bail at $500,000 for each of the men, who were identified as Charles Ethan Fields, 26, and Levi Austin Frakes, 27.
He did so after finding probable cause for possession, manufacture or disposal of an incendiary device, multiple counts of unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
In setting their release conditions, Skinder determined the court could not be reasonably assured the men would return to court when required, there exists a substantial danger they may commit a violent crime, and they may seek to interfere with the case.
Skinder also ordered them to not own or control weapons or firearms as well as to undergo electronic home monitoring with a GPS device if they are released from jail. The investigation
A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the two men from the perspective of law enforcement.
On Monday, an Army CID agent asked Sheriff’s Lt. Sean Chatterton, the county’s SWAT Team Commander, to be their liaison for a search of a Lacey residence.
The agent informed Chatterton that the Army CID obtained a search warrant from Thurston County Superior Court that stemmed from an investigation into a robbery and assault that occurred at JBLM.
The two men allegedly entered into the Ranger Regiment area of the base to steal body armor, helmets and military equipment. A soldier confronted the two men and a “physical fight broke out,” according to the statement.
One of the men allegedly struck the soldier in the head with a hammer, causing a significant head injury. The soldier continued to fight and one of the men pulled out a knife. The fight ended and the two men fled the scene.
As they left, one of the men dropped a hat with the name “Fields” on it. The Army CID identified the two men as Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes with the help of video and gate entrance records.
Fields and Frakes reportedly had access to JBLM because they are military veterans.
The FBI SWAT Team served the search warrant for the Lacey home, and both Fields and Frakes were detained at the scene.
Once the scene was secure, Chatterton walked through the home and saw various weapons, explosives and equipment as well as Nazi paraphernalia.
Photos shared by Sanders show Nazi and SS flags as well as a framed photos, one of Adolf Hitler and another of an eagle statue with a Nazi swastika.
An Army explosive ordinance disposal specialist responded to the scene and verified that the blasting caps, flag bangs and smoke grenades were restricted Army issued munitions.
The Army took possession of the restricted munitions and the Army CID collected all evidence for the case.
Based on the search and investigation, the statement says Chatterton believes the two men “pose an extreme danger to the community.”
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