Olympia man sentenced for breaking into house boat

An Olympia man has been sentenced to one year in jail for breaking into a house boat and threatening an elderly couple with a knife.

Michael Dale Johnson, 34, pleaded guilty Thursday in Thurston County Superior Court to one count of vehicle prowling and one count of unlawful display of a knife. He was sentenced to one year in jail with 319 days suspended on the condition that he commit no violations in the next two years.

Johnson will begin serving the 45-day sentence in September, and prosecutors have recommended he serve the sentence on work release. As part of the sentence, Johnson is required to undergo mental health treatment and must have no contact with the victims.

According to court documents, Johnson broke into a house boat Jan. 25 at Swantown Marina, 1022 Marine Drive NE, Olympia. He allegedly entered an enclosed patio, brandished a 4-inch pocket knife, and kept saying to the victims, “How do you think this will end?”

Police arrested Johnson on the dock. He was soaking wet and wearing only underwear and a T-shirt, according to documents.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Olympia man sentenced for breaking into house boat."