1

FILED
2024 FEB 14 02:01 PM
2 KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT CLERK
3 E-FILED
CASE #: 24-1-00096-4 KNT
4

5
SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY
6
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, )
7 Plaintiff, )
v. ) No. 24-C-00095-6 KNT
8 ) 24-C-00096-4 KNT
BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER, )
9 JOSHUA C JONES ) INFORMATION
AND EACH OF THEM, )
10 Defendant. )
)
11 )
)
12 )

13 I, Leesa Manion, Prosecuting Attorney for King County in the name and by the authority
of the State of Washington, do accuse BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER, AND JOSHUA C
14 JONES of the following crime[s], which are based on the same conduct or a series of acts
connected together or constituting parts of a common scheme or plan: Murder In The First
15 Degree, Murder In The Second Degree, Animal Cruelty in the First Degree, Unlawful
Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the
16 First Degree, Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree, committed as
follows:
17
Count 1 Murder In The First Degree
18
That the defendant BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER in King County, Washington, on or
19 about the period between November 15, 2023 and November 16, 2023 , with premeditated intent
to cause the death of another person, did cause the death of Ashley N. Williams, a human being,
20 who died on or about November 16, 2023;
21 Contrary to RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a), and against the peace and dignity of the State of
Washington.
22

23

24
Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney
W554 King County Courthouse
INFORMATION - 1 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1 And further do allege the defendant, BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER at said time of
being armed with a gun, a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010, under the authority of RCW
2 9.94A.533(3).

3 Count 2 Murder In The Second Degree

4 That the defendant BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER in King County, Washington, on or

about the period between November 15, 2023 and November 16, 2023 , while committing and
5 attempting to commit the crime of Assault in the Second Degree, and in the course of and in
furtherance of said crime and in the immediate flight therefrom, and with intent to cause the
6 death of another person, did cause the death of Robert L. Riley, a human being, who was not a
participant in said crime, and who died on or about November 16, 2023;
7
Assault in the Second Degree as used in the above charge means to intentionally assault
8 another with a deadly weapon. Attempt as used in the above charge means that the defendant
committed an act which was a substantial step towards the commission of the above described
9 crime with the intent to commit that crime.

10 Contrary to RCW 9A.32.050(1)(a), (b), RCW 9A.36.021(1)(c), and RCW 9A.28.020, and
against the peace and dignity of the State of Washington.
11
And further do allege the defendant, BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER at said time of
12 being armed with a gun, a firearm as defined in RCW 9.41.010, under the authority of RCW
9.94A.533(3).
13
Count 3 Animal Cruelty in the First Degree
14
That the defendant BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER in King County, Washington, on or
15 about December 17, 2023, did intentionally and unlawfully inflict substantial pain on, cause
physical injury to, and kill an animal, to-wit: a horse named Lemon, by means causing undue
16 suffering to said animal; and did intentionally and unlawfully kill an animal, to-wit: a horse
named Lemon, while manifesting an extreme indifference to life;
17
Contrary to RCW 16.52.205, and against the peace and dignity of the State of
18 Washington.

19 Count 4 Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree

20 That the defendant BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER in King County, Washington, on or

about February 9, 2024, previously having been convicted in Snohomish County Superior Court
21 of the crime of Burglary in the First Degree, a serious offense as defined in RCW 9.41.010, and
previously having been convicted in Snohomish County Superior Court of Assault in the Second
22 Degree, a serious offense as defined in RCW 9.41.010, did knowingly own, access, have in his
custody, control, or possession, or receive, a Glock 27 handgun, a firearm as defined in RCW
23 9.41.010;

24
Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney
W554 King County Courthouse
INFORMATION - 2 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1 Contrary to RCW 9.41.040(1), and against the peace and dignity of the State of
Washington.
2
Count 5 Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree
3
That the defendant JOSHUA C JONES in King County, Washington, on or about
4 November 16, 2023, with intent to prevent, hinder or delay the apprehension or prosecution of
Brandon Gerner, did render criminal assistance to Brandon Gerner, a person who he knew (A)
5 committed Murder in the First and Second Degree and (B) was being sought for the commission
of a Class A felony by (1) harboring or concealing such person; (2) warning such person of
6 impending discovery or apprehension; (3) providing such person with other means of avoiding
discovery or apprehension; (4) preventing and obstructing, by use of force, deception, and threat,
7 anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person;
(5) concealing, altering and destroying physical evidence, to-wit: the deceased body of Ashley
8 N. Williams that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person;

9 Contrary to RCW 9A.76.070(1), (2)(a) and 9A.76.050, and against the peace and dignity
of the State of Washington.
10
Count 6 Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree
11
That the defendant JOSHUA C JONES in King County, Washington, on or about
12 November 16, 2023, with intent to prevent, hinder or delay the apprehension or prosecution of
Brandon Gerner, did render criminal assistance to Brandon Gerner, a person who he knew (A)
13 committed Murder in the First and Second Degree and (B) was being sought for the commission
of a Class A felony by (1) harboring or concealing such person; (2) warning such person of
14 impending discovery or apprehension; (3) providing such person with other means of avoiding
discovery or apprehension; (4) preventing and obstructing, by use of force, deception, and threat,
15 anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person;
(5) concealing, altering and destroying physical evidence, to-wit: the deceased body of Robert
16 L. Riley that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person;

17 Contrary to RCW 9A.76.070(1), (2)(a) and 9A.76.050, and against the peace and dignity
of the State of Washington.
18
LEESA MANION (she/her)
19 Prosecuting Attorney

20 By:

21

22
Brent R Kling, WSBA #54464
23 Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

24
Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney
W554 King County Courthouse
INFORMATION - 3 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1

2
CAUSE NO. KNT
3
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CASE SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR BAIL AND/OR
CONDITIONS OF RELEASE
4
The State incorporates by reference the Certification for Determination of Probable Cause
5
prepared by Detective Aaron M. Thompson of the King County Sheriff's Office for case number
C23039427.
6
I, Brent R Kling, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, declare that I have reviewed the
7
Certification, Discovery, and Defendant’s criminal history; I further declare that:
8
In reviewing JABS, I am aware that Defendant Gerner was sentenced on 2/14/2001 in
Snohomish County Superior Court case 00-1-01991-7 following convictions for: Attempt to
9
Elude, Assault in the 2nd Degree, Burglary in the 1st Degree (x2); Assault in the 3rd Degree, and
Unlawful Possession of Firearms.
10
I spoke with a contact from WA State DOC on 2/10/2024 and asked about Defendant Brandon
11
Gerner’s most recent release date from DOC. I was informed that Defendant Gerner began his
DOC sentence in the above case on 2/20/2001 after being sentenced to a period of 276 months.
12
He had an earned release date of 3/20/2023.
13
Under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of Washington, I, Brent R Kling, Senior Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney, certify that the foregoing is true and correct. Signed and dated by me this
14
13th day of February, 2024.
15

16

17 Brent R Kling, WSBA #54464

18 BRANDON JOSEPH GERNER
19 Pursuant to Art. 1, § 20 of the Washington State Constitution, the State requests that the
20 defendant Brandon Gerner be held with NO BAIL. Wa. Const. Art. 1, § 20 states:

21 All persons charged with crime shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for
capital offenses when the proof is evident, or the presumption great. Bail may be
22 denied for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison upon a showing
by clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that creates a
23 substantial likelihood of danger to the community or any person, subject to such
limitations as shall be determined by the legislature.
24 Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney Case Prosecuting Attorney
Summary and Request for Bail W554 King County Courthouse
and/or Conditions of Release - 1 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1

2
The crimes of Murder in the First and Second Degree carry with them a maximum
3 punishment of life in prison. The Defendant’s actions in the present crimes combined with his
criminal history show by clear and convincing evidence that he has a propensity for violence that
4
creates a substantial likelihood of danger to the community. The State made, and the court
5
granted, the same request concerning a hold without bail at the Defendant’s first appearance on
6 2/10/2024.
In the present case, the Defendant participated in the violent killing of two individuals.
7
The evidence suggests that the Defendant instructed another individual to shoot the first victim.
8
Afterward, and in an attempt to ensure that there were no additional witnesses to the first
9 victim’s death, the defendant and an associate went into the victim’s trailer and encountered the
second victim, a woman who by all accounts was simply present at the scene. The Defendant
10
then proceeded to repeatedly stab her, ultimately partaking in an extremely brutal attack that
11
culminated in the second victim’s death. The victims’ bodies were subsequently loaded into a
12 vehicle and carried away from the scene, only to be indiscriminately dumped in the bushes of a
nearby residential neighborhood. Ultimately, what the reporting 911 caller originally believed to
13
be trash discarded on the side of the road turned out to be the bloody and deceased bodies of two
14
human beings.
15 The Defendant has Washington adult felony convictions for Attempt to Elude, Assault in
the 2nd Degree, Burglary in the 1st Degree (x2); Assault in the 3rd Degree, and Unlawful
16
Possession of Firearms, all from 2001. He was sentenced on 2/14/2001 in Snohomish County
17
Superior Court case 00-1-01991-7 to a period of 276 months in prison.
18 According to In re Gerner, 193 Wash.App. 1004, 2016 WL 1098800 (2016) Not
Reported, in 2014 the Defendant filed a personal restraint petition arguing that his offender score
19
had been miscalculated. Ultimately, the Division 1 Court of Appeals ruled that, at the time of his
20
original sentencing, a January 1997 juvenile conviction for Robbery in the 2nd Degree was
21 incorrectly included as part of his offender score.
Ultimately, the Defendant had an earned release date from those convictions of
22
3/20/2023, meaning that after serving approximately 22 years in prison he was only out of
23
custody approximately 8 months before participating in the murder of two people. At the time of
24 Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney Case Prosecuting Attorney
Summary and Request for Bail W554 King County Courthouse
and/or Conditions of Release - 2 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1

2
his arrest in this case, the defendant was on active DOC supervision. Despite his supervision
3 conditions and the six felony convictions that prevent him from possessing firearms, the
defendant was found in possession of a semi-automatic handgun when taken into custody.
4
Based on his incredibly violent conduct in this case, his history of possessing and recent
5
possession of firearms, his criminal history, and his failure to comply with DOC conditions, the
6 Defendant should continue to be held without bail.

7
JOSEPH CHARLES JONES
8
Pursuant to CrR 2.2(b)(2)(i) and (ii) the State requests that the Court set bail in the
9
amount of $1,000,000 as the Defendant is unlikely to appear in response to a summons and
10 presents a danger to the community. The defendant is currently being held in custody at SCORE
on a no bail DOC hold following his arrest on 2/7/2024. At the time of his arrest pursuant to the
11
existence of probable cause in this investigation, the Defendant also had an active DOC warrant.
12
He presently has a “to be determined” scheduled release date.
13 Given that the Defendant has not yet been booked into the King County Jail on charges
for this investigation due his hold at SCORE, he has not had a 1st appearance and bail/conditions
14
of release have not previously been addressed.
15
In the present case, the Defendant was present at the location where his co-defendant
16 participated in the brutal killing of two individuals. While, from the current state of the
evidence, it appears that the Defendant did not play a direct role in killing either victim, he did
17
assist the co-defendant and another associate in loading the bodies into a vehicle with the
18
knowledge that the victims had been killed and that they would be driven off the property and
19 discarded in an attempt to hide evidence of the crimes. He further admitted to aiding in
concealing evidence of the crimes by discarding the body of a dog that was killed on the property
20
during the course of the murders.
21
The defendant has Washington adult felony convictions for Possession of a Stolen
22 Vehicle and Theft 2 (2007); Taking a Motor vehicle without Permission (2009); Unlawful
Possession of a Firearm – 2nd Degree (2011); Unlawful Imprisonment (2011); and Assault with a
23
Deadly Weapon. He has a open case out of Skagit County Superior Court (21-1-00260-29) that
24 Leesa Manion (she/her)
Prosecuting Attorney Case Prosecuting Attorney
Summary and Request for Bail W554 King County Courthouse
and/or Conditions of Release - 3 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
 1

2
is in warrant status. Review of JABS shows 18 cases with warrant activity since 2007, the most
3 having been issued in his Skagit County Superior Court case in 2021.

4
Signed and dated by me this 21st day of January, 2022.
5

7 Brent R Kling, WSBA #54464

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
8

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24 Leesa Manion (she/her)

Prosecuting Attorney Case Prosecuting Attorney
Summary and Request for Bail W554 King County Courthouse
and/or Conditions of Release - 4 516 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9000 FAX (206) 296-0945
AGENCY: CASE NUMBER FILE NUMBER PCN NUMBER

King County Sheriff's Office C23039427 SUPERFORM

ARREST INFORMATION
DATE & TIME OF VIOLATION CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CITATION ATTACHED? ACCOMPLICES
2/14/2024
☐ YES ☐ NO GERNER, BRANDON
DATE OF ARREST/TIME ARREST LOCATION
2/14/2024 216 PL SE/MAPLE VALLEY HWY RENTON, WA 98057

SUSPECT INFORMATION
NAME (LAST, FIRST, MIDDLE/JR, SR, 1st, 2nd) DOB ALIAS, NICKNAMES

JONES, JOSHUA C 8/2/1989

ARMED/DANGEROUS IDENTITY IN DOUBT? CITIZENSHIP

☐ YES ☐ NO ☐ YES ☐ NO
PHYSICAL DETAILS
SEX HEIGHT WEIGHT SKIN TONE RACE EYE HAIR SCARS, MARKS, TATTOOS, DEFORMITIES
'
IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
UCN PRIOR BA # AFIS # FBI # STATE ID # DRIVERS LICENSE # STATE SSN

WDL1N251C33B
RESIDENCE EMPLOYMENT / SCHOOL
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS EMPLOYER, SCHOOL (ADDRESS, SHOP/UNION NUMBER)
12429 8TH DR NW TULALIP, WA 98271
RESIDENCE PHONE BUSINESS PHONE OCCUPATION

EMERGENCY CONTACT
PERSON TO BE CONTACTED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY RELATIONSHIP ADDRESS PHONE

CHARGE INFORMATION
OFFENSE RCW / ORD# COURT / CAUSE # CITATION #
Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree
☐ DV ☐ FUGITIVE
OFFENSE RCW / ORD# COURT / CAUSE # CITATION #

☐ DV ☐ FUGITIVE
WARRANT / OTHER
WARRANT DATE WARRANT NUMBER OFFENSE AMOUNT OF BAIL WARRANT TYPE

ORIGINATING POLICY AGENCY ISSUING AGENCY WARRANT RELEASED TO: (SERIAL # / UNIT / DATE / TIME)

PROPERTY INFORMATION
LIST VALUABLE ITEMS OR PROPERTY LEFT FOR ARRESTEE AT JAIL

LIST VALUABLE ITEMS OR PROPERTY ENTERED INTO EVIDENCE (SIMPLE DESCRIPTION, IDENTIFYING MARKS, SERIAL #)

LIST ITEMS ENTERED INTO SAFEKEEPING

TOTAL CASH OF ARRESTEE WAS CASH TAKEN INTO EVIDENCE? SIGNATURE OF JAIL STAFF RECEIVING ITEMS / SERIAL #
$0.00
☐ YES ☐ NO AMOUNT: $0.00

OFFICER INFORMATION
ARRESTING OFFICER / SERIAL # TRANSPORTING OFFICER / SERIAL # SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE / SERIAL #
Thompson, Aaron M 65909
SUPERFORM COMPLETED BY (SIGNATURE/SERIAL #) CONTACT PERSON FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (NAME / SERIAL # / PHONE)

COURT FILE
SUPERIOR COURT COURT CAUSE (STAMP OR WRITE)
FILING INFO ☐ IN CUSTODY ☐ AT LARGE ☐ OUT ON BOND
COURT/DIST. DIST. CT. SUP. CT. DATE
CT.NO. BOND$

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