Svilarich makes first appearance in Superior Court

Camas City Councilman John Svilarich, 66, who is facing second-degree felony assault and reckless endangerment charges stemming from an Aug. 31 argument with a fisherman along the Washougal River Greenway trail in Camas, made his first appearance in Clark County Superior Court Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Svilarich’s lawyer, Vancouver criminal defense attorney Jon McMullen, argued before Clark County Superior Court Judge John Fairgrieve that Svilarich, who is accused of pointing a gun at 46-year-old Daniel Beaudoin, of Portland, after arguing with Beaudoin over an improperly disposed cigarette butt, should be allowed supervised release and administrative booking with the caveat that Svilarich has a no-contact order with the alleged victim and his firearm remain in police custody.

McMullen told Fairgrieve that Svilarich’s job requires him to travel throughout the Western United States, throughout Washington state and to Oregon, Idaho, Utah and California; and that Svilarich also cares for aging parents who live in Medford, Oregon.

“John has never had a criminal offense,” McMullen said during his client’s first superior court appearance on Oct. 2. “This is an unfortunate situation … This is not an appropriate time to argue the case … but when the case is discussed further, we will be discussing whether there was a legitimate reason to have (the) firearm.”

The judge agreed to McMullen’s requests and said he would allow Svilarich to travel outside of the state for work and to care for his parents.

Fairgrieve also warned Svilarich that he is to have no contact with Beaudoin, telling the city councilman: “It is a crime if you have contact with him, so please don’t do that.”

Svilarich is set to be arraigned Oct. 14, in Clark County Superior Court.