Criminal sentencings in Thurston County Superior Court

The curated articles highlight criminal sentencing outcomes in Thurston County Superior Court for cases in Olympia and Lacey.

A man was sentenced to over 14 years for setting a person on fire. In a related case, another man received a 55-year sentence for his role in the same murder.

Another incident involved a fight outside Timberline High School in Lacey. Parents, accused of trying to kill their daughter, were sentenced for assault and imprisonment. Additionally, a former Olympia teacher took a plea deal to avoid prison for charges related to molesting a student.

NO. 1: FORMER OLYMPIA TEACHER ACCUSED OF MOLESTING STUDENT AVOIDS PRISON BY ACCEPTING PLEA DEAL

A Thurston County judge sentenced the former teacher on Friday for a different charge. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martín Bilbao

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NO. 2: LACEY WOMAN GETS 27-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE FOR KILLING PARTNER IN A ‘NOT A TYPICAL CASE.’

The victim’s family asked for a longer sentence but the judge said he could not give one. | Published April 21, 2025 | Read Full Story

Thurston County currently houses its main courthouse at a campus on on Lakeridge Drive Southwest in west Olympia. By Tony Overman

NO. 3: ‘YOU TRIED TO KILL ME.’ DAUGHTER CONFRONTS LACEY PARENTS AT SENTENCING HEARING MONDAY

A judge has sentenced two Lacey parents for a high-profile physical fight with their daughter outside Timberline High School last fall. | Published August 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martín Bilbao

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christopher Lanese listens to Kevin Hinzpeter, 32, address the court during his sentencing hearing on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Hinzpeter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Zebediah Schoening, a 47-year-old former resident of “The Jungle” on Martin Way East in Olympia. By Martín Bilbao

NO. 4: MAN WHO SET PERSON ON FIRE WITH ‘HOMEMADE NAPALM’ SENTENCED FOR OLYMPIA MURDER

A Thurston County judge sentenced a man to over 14 years in prison this week for murdering a man who he set on fire at an Olympia encampment in 2024. | Published November 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martín Bilbao

Christopher Edward Snyder, 32, (left) speaks to his defense attorney Albert Didcock (right) during his sentencing hearing in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Judge Christopher Lanese ultimately sentenced him to over 55 years in prison in connection to the death of Zebediah Starbrow Schoening, 47. By Martín Bilbao

NO. 5: MAN WHO BURNED SOMEONE ALIVE AT OLYMPIA HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT HAS BEEN SENTENCED

A Thurston County judge sentenced a man to over 55 years in prison this week for his role in killing a man who was set on fire at an Olympia encampment in 2024. | Published November 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martín Bilbao

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.