Camas City Councilor John Svilarich was involved in a disturbance involving a firearm along the Washougal Greenway in Camas

On Aug. 31, Camas City Councilor John Svilarich was involved in a disturbance involving a firearm along the Washougal Greenway in Camas. 

It began as a verbal argument between Svilarich and a fisherman along the river, and escalated to the point where an 8-inch rock was allegedly thrown by Svilarich at the fisherman from an overhead bridge. Then, Svilarich allegedly brandished a handgun and aimed it towards the fisherman. Camas Police were called to the scene and interviewed the involved parties and witnesses. Camas Police detectives opened a subsequent investigation

On Sept. 13, Camas Police detectives arrested Svilarich on two misdemeanor charges of Reckless Endangerment and Aiming/Discharging a Firearm. Shortly thereafter, the city of Camas then released an official notification of the incident in a press release sent to several area news organizations. The reporting of the misdemeanor charges were consistent in all of the reporting of the incident.

However, the city of Camas has failed to inform the public that six days later, on Sept. 19, Clark County District Attorney Tony Golic, upgraded one of the charges, specifically the Aiming/Discharging a Firearm charge, to a 2nd degree felony charge, according to the charging documents filed in Clark County Superior Court. Svilarich has now been charged with one count of Assault in the 2nd Degree.

According to the new charge: “the defendant, John Vincent Svilarich, in the County of Clark, State of Washington, on or about August 31,2024 did intentionally assault Daniel J Beaudoin, a human being, with a deadly weapon, to-wit: a firearm; contrary to Revised Code of Washington 9A.36.021(l )(c). This crime is a ‘most serious offense’ pursuant to the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (RCW 9.94A.030(32), RCW 9.94A.030(37), RCWA 9.94A.s05(2)(aXiii) and RCW 994A.570).’’

This felony charge also carries a “Special Punishment Provision” due to its statutory definition of a “most serious offense” which includes Class B felonies like manslaughter, robbery or burglary, theft of large amounts of money, certain drug offenses, and certain sexual offenses. A conviction can lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine.

The upgrade to a felony by the district attorney appears to be a response to the details in the arrest report, which include many facts not reported by the city of Camas in its news release. Washington state law states that “a conviction of a public officer of any felony or malfeasance in office shall entail, in addition to such other penalty as may be imposed, the forfeiture of his or her office, and shall disqualify him or her from ever afterward holding any public office in this state (RCW 9.92.120).’’

Svilarich is scheduled to be arraigned in the Clark County Superior Court on Wed., Oct. 2 at 1:30pm. Judge John Fairgrieve will preside.