The campaign manager for Jimi O’Hagan, a Grayland resident running as a Republican for a House seat in the 19th Legislative District, said felony charges filed against O’Hagan in Lewis County are unsubstantiated.

O’Hagan is running against incumbent Rep. Brian Blake, a Democrat from Aberdeen.

“Jimi hasn’t even been informed of anything,” said Robert Powers, who also resides on the candidate’s cranberry farm in Pacific County. “No one has shown up here and there’s no indication of this happening.”

An article published Wednesday by the Chinook Observer, a newspaper in Pacific County, reports that Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against O’Hagan on Monday and issued a summons Tuesday ordering him to appear in court there on Nov. 18. The specific felony charges against him are possession of a stolen vehicle and first-degree possession of stolen property, the article states.

Powers said Friday afternoon such charges have no merit because the vehicles in question were given to O’Hagan to hold in storage by Brian Couch who borrowed $15,000 from O’Hagan to finance removal of brush from the BP pipeline that runs through the area with the understanding the money would be reimbursed and other compensation for the loan would be provided.

“Jimi is allowed by law to hold the property in lieu of payment of money owed to him,” Powers said. “It’s similar to when a storage company is allowed to hold property if someone doesn’t pay their bill for the storage space.”

The vehicles weren’t borrowed by O’Hagan, who also completed some repairs on Couch’s request, Powers stressed.

There was also a tow truck left there initially but Couch came onto O’Hagan’s property without permission and removed it, Powers said. When Couch returned to take away something else left there, he was told by O’Hagan, “he wouldn’t get anything back until (O’Hagan) was paid back,” Powers said.

Powers said O’Hagan was aware that Couch had filed charges against him, and had shown the Prosecutor’s Office documentation related to the matter.

O’Hagan is seeking civil judgment against Couch in Cowlitz County Superior Court and had also made a criminal complaint again Couch earlier, according to Powers and a document sent to the newspaper by O’Hagan.

The candidate has sought political office previously and had identified as an Independent or constitutionalist in the past.

He initially responded to The Daily World’s request for comment by sending several documents pertaining to the situation but wasn’t available to elaborate when the newspaper attempted to follow-up by telephone. Powers spoke to us on O’Hagan’s behalf and said his candidate was out working on his farm.

Washington’s 19th Legislative District covers Pacific and Wahkiakum counties, as well as portions of Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Cowlitz counties.